About this Course

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In today’s world, mental illness and distress are common and these account for a significant burden of disability within our community. At the same time, there is a growing interest in understanding and enhancing positive mental health and wellbeing; particularly from developments in the fields of positive psychology and mental health promotion.  Positive Psychiatry is a new term (Jeste et al 2016) that describes a dual approach to mental health, where we build strengths,  supports and healthy lifestyles as well as treating illness and distress.
In this course, we will explore different aspects of good mental health as well as provide an overview of the major kinds of mental disorders, their causes, treatments and how to seek help and support.  The course will feature a large number of Australian experts in psychiatry, psychology and mental health research,  and we will also hear from “lived experience experts”, people who have lived with mental illness, and share their personal stories of recovery. 

We take an evidence-based approach to a range of strategies that anyone can use to enhance their own mental health and that of others, from exercise and relaxation techniques through to the role of love, relationships and 'good' types of work. We cover topics from creativity and yoga through to psychiatric medications and psychotherapies.

Learner Career Outcomes

26%

started a new career after completing these courses

20%

got a tangible career benefit from this course

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Approx. 20 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Chinese (Simplified), Italian, Vietnamese, Korean, German, Russian, Turkish, English, Spanish

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.75/5 (639 Ratings)

Sonia Kumar

Psychiatry Course Coordinator

Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney

150,309 Learners

1 Course

Learner Career Outcomes

26%

started a new career after completing these courses

20%

got a tangible career benefit from this course

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Approx. 20 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Chinese (Simplified), Italian, Vietnamese, Korean, German, Russian, Turkish, English, Spanish

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating98%(23,501 ratings)

Week

1

Week 1

3 hours to complete

Module 1 - Positive mental health and Psychiatry

Welcome to the MOOC! Get yourself acquainted. This module is about positive mental health, stress and recovery, and some of the important findings from Aristotle through to recent research on the correlates to happiness.

3 hours to complete

8 videos (Total 55 min), 8 readings, 2 quizzes

8 videos

MOOC overview3m

Wellbeing1m

Positive mental health and Psychiatry8m

Stress9m

Recovery perspective8m

Tina's Story - Part 14m

Positive Psychology8m

8 Steps to Happiness11m

8 readings

How to navigate the MOOC10m

Overview of assessments and activities10m

About the Pre-course self-assessment scales10m

Module 1 Reading list10m

Essential reading - Mental Health and Wellbeing10m

Essential reading - Stress20m

Essential reading - 100 ways to support recovery10m

Essential readings - the PERMA Model10m

1 practice exercise

Pre-course knowledge test30m

Week

2

Week 2

5 hours to complete

Module 2 - Body and Mind

This module is about the body and mind. We will learn about the central importance of physical health and lifestyle, and how exercise can be used as an evidence-based treatment for common mental health conditions. We will cover basic relaxation and mindfulness strategies, as well as personality strengths, and how to identify your own strengths.

5 hours to complete

9 videos (Total 66 min), 9 readings, 2 quizzes

9 videos

Exercise6m

BONUS: The benefits of pet ownership1m

Yoga and mental health7m

Sleeping well8m

Nutrition: Prevention7m

Relaxation8m

Mindfulness10m

Personality strengths8m

A strengths approach to community mental health5m

9 readings

Essential readings - Exercise10m

Recommended resource - Yoga10m

Essential readings - Sleep10m

Recommended resource - About the Insomnia Severity Index10m

Essential readings - Nutrition10m

Essential reading - Breathing and relaxation exercises10m

Recommended resources - Mindfulness10m

Recommended resources - Strengths Assessment and VIA survey of Character Strengths10m

Module 2 Reading list10m

Week

3

Week 3

3 hours to complete

Module 3 - Love and Work

Mental health has sometimes been described simply as the capacity to love and to work. Psychiatry still uses similar concepts today. In this module, we talk about love and work, and introduce the complementary ideas of rest and play. We hear about attachment theory, social connections and the ancient wisdom of Australian Aboriginal views on wellbeing. We discuss the importance of contributing and here you find out whether or not work is good for you.

3 hours to complete

9 videos (Total 70 min), 7 readings, 1 quiz

9 videos

Attachment and mental health11m

Creative selves7m

Autonomy and connection2m

Families and carers10m

Aboriginal Australians: social and emotional wellbeing7m

Social and economic participation3m

The YES Project11m

Consumer communities7m

Work and mental health7m

7 readings

Recommended resource - Attachment10m

Recommended resource - The benefits of social support10m

Recommended resource - Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing10m

Recommended resources - Consumer communities10m

Essential reading: Australian and New Zealand Consensus Statement on the Health Benefits of Work10m

Recommended resources on work and mental health10m

Module 3 Reading list10m

Week

4

Week 4

5 hours to complete

Module 4 - Mental Illness

In this module, we cover the major categories of mental illness: their symptoms, causes and treatments. This includes the more common conditions such as anxiety, depression and addictions, as well as less common mental illnesses such as psychosis, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

5 hours to complete

10 videos (Total 93 min), 11 readings, 2 quizzes

10 videos

Tina's Story - Part 26m

Anxiety10m

Depression9m

Addictions11m

Trauma12m

Bipolar disorder9m

BONUS: Rob's story5m

Psychosis and Schizophrenia9m

Psychotherapies8m

Psychiatric medications9m

11 readings

Recommended resource - Mental Health First Aid10m

Recommended resources - Types of anxiety disorders10m

Essential readings - Depression10m

Essential readings - Addictions10m

Recommended resources - About the AUDIT Scale10m

Essential reading - Post-traumatic Stress Disorder10m

Essential reading - Bipolar disorder10m

Essential reading - Psychosis and schizophrenia10m

Recommended readings - ADHD and autism spectrum10m

Essential readings - Talking Therapies10m

Module 4 Reading list10m

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
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The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
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Positive Psychiatry and Mental Health