MMH5003 Psychological distress and mental illness in individuals and population groups

While mental illness is common in the general population, the underlying aetiology, factors that increase or ameliorate the risk of becoming unwell and the experience and needs are not the same for everyone. This unit explores several theories and areas of research that help provide foundational knowledge about why people experience psychological distress and mental illnesses.  The different  biopsychosocial models of mental health and illness will be explored.  

The relevance of a developmental and life course perspective alongside these models will be considered to provide you with an appreciation of why some individuals and population subgroups experience mental illness and the factors that contribute to their recovery. You will learn about the risk factors and needs of  people in specific population groups such as youth, LGBTQIA+, Indigenous and culturally diverse communities.