Mental Health

Code:

MSP12_28

Acronym:

MSP12_28

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Public Health

Instance: 2021/2022 - 2S (of 07-02-2022 to 15-07-2022)

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Public Health and Forensic Sciences, and Medical Education Department
Course/CS Responsible:	Master Degree Course in Public Health

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MSP	12	Current Studies Plan	1	-	3	27	81

Teaching language

English

Objectives

The objectives of the course involve: (1) the definition of concepts and the approach of historical aspects related to mental health, public mental health, psychology and psychiatry adjusted to public health agents, (2) mental health literacy, (3) the epidemiology of mental disorders, (4) the design of epidemiological studies and the effect of mental health interventions,  (5) mental health assessment instruments, (6) mental health indicators, (7) legislation, organization of mental health services and programs in Portugal.

A crucial objective is the presentation of practical cases: (1) the epidemiology and prevention of suicide, (2) the incidence, prevalence, disabilities and mortality of mental illnesses in the world and in Portugal, (3) mental health literacy programs in primary health care, (4) mental health literacy programs in schools and universities,  (5) mental health at work, (6) ethics and values – denial and stigma, (7) mental health conflicts and the biases of studies and researchers, and (8) the media and mental health.

Learning outcomes and competences

The learning outcomes are acquiring knowledge on specific public mental health concepts, values, policies, and epidemiology, which is applied to the frequency and distribution of indicators and determinants of health and mental disorders in the general population, at-risk populations, and clinical populations.

The master’s students will acquire skills in managing conceptual, documental, and instrumental tools that will enable them to critically evaluate and design public mental health intervention programs.

Working method

Presencial

Program

1. Mental Health Concepts


2. Nosology of psychopathology and mental disorders


3. Epidemiology and impact of mental disorders


4. Mental and physical illnesses


5. Mental health care planning and organisation of services


6. Public mental health: present and future challenges, and social determinants


7. Research issues in the field of mental health


8. Mental Health Promotion and Prevention of Mental Illness


9. Suicide prevention

Mandatory literature

Kristian Wahlbeck; Public mental health: the time is ripe for translation of evidence into practice, World Psychiatry, 2015
World Health Organization; The World Health Report 2001: Mental health: new understanding, new hope., Geneva: World Health Organization., 2001. ISBN: 9241562013
World Health Organization; World mental health report: transforming mental health for all, Geneva: World Health Organization, 2022. ISBN: 978-92-4-004933-8

Complementary Bibliography

Bhugra D, Bhui K, Wong SYS, Gilman SE; Oxford Textbook of Public Mental Health, Oxford University Press, 2018. ISBN: 9780198792994

Comments from the literature

In each session, new bibliographic references will be given.

Teaching methods and learning activities

The course takes place over nine sessions with a total of 27 hours, of which 15h00 will be theoretical -- seminars -- and 12h00 theoretical-practical. At these times, the typology used will be (1) thematic discussion, (2) the flipped classroom, and (3) the group presentation.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Participação presencial	10,00
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	30,00
Trabalho escrito	60,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	15,00
Estudo autónomo	15,00
Frequência das aulas	27,00
Trabalho escrito	24,00
Total:	81,00

Eligibility for exams

The presence in-course, for at least 21 hours, or seven modules out of nine.

Calculation formula of final grade

The evaluation process will include:

• 10% assiduity -- 21h00 = 0 points; 24h00 = 1 points; 27h00 = 2 points

• 30% participation presenting work and spontaneous = 6 points

• 60% writing of a short-report / short-paper with max 3000 words on a theme worked on during the course unit = 12 points

Relevant topics in the evaluation are (1) demonstrated judgment on the choice of relevant themes (scientific, burden, intervention), (2) critical thinking, (3) intellectual framing on evidence-based science, (4) management of intellectual conflicts of interest, and (5) skill on health communication.