Epidemiology of Mental Health Disorders

Description

Epidemiology of mental health disorders is the study of the distribution and determinants of mental health disorders among populations. Mental disorders represent four of the 10 leading causes of disability worldwide. This growing burden amounts to a huge cost to health care system in terms of human misery, disability and economic loss. This course examines mental health and mental disorders across the life span: child, adolescent, adult and older adult. Trainees will learn about the major risk factors for and etiologic models of mental disorders. This will include examination of social factors, biological factors, genetic factors and their interactions. Special attention will be paid to the unique methodological and analytical issues highlighted by mental health epidemiologic research. Based on the concepts covered in this course, participants will consider the implications for public health programs and interventions.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, the participant will be able to:

1. Describe the epidemiology of mental health problems as they affect adults, adolescents and children
2. Calculate the determinants, risk and protective factors for mental health at different stages in the life course
3. Apply various assessment measures of mental health
4. Critically evaluate the measures of mental disorders burden and their application from monitoring to policy evaluation
5. Compare and contrast the range of approaches to mental health promotion and mental illness prevention

Course Outline

1. Mental disorders and mental health: concepts and classifications
2. Health services for mental disorders
3. Mental health and mental wellbeing:
   1. Definition and measurement
   2. Social and cultural determinants
   3. Family influences
   4. Environmental influences
   5. Economics of mental health
4. Assessment methods in mental health
5. Mental health in children and adolescents
6. Well-being measurement in community surveys
7. Mental health and ageing
8. Prevention and mental health promotion
9. Interventions to promote public mental health:
   1. Mental well-being impact assessment
   2. Parenting and family focused supports
   3. School and community-based approaches
   4. Workplace wellbeing
   5. Community approaches
   6. Primary care mental health
   7. Recovery and integration

Training delivery methods

1. In-class method
2.  Online method