The Social Context of Mental Health and Illness

The Social Context of Mental Health and Illness

Instructor: Charmaine Williams

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1 assignment

Taught in English

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There are 6 modules in this course

Learn how social factors promote mental health, influence the onset and course of mental illness, and affect how mental illnesses are diagnosed and treated.

This course explores how our understanding of mental health and illness has been influenced by social attitudes and social developments in North America and around the world. The course begins by situating our contemporary mental health practices in historical context, then looks at different aspects of mental health, mental illness and mental health services and their connections to what’s going on in our social environment.

We begin with a quick orientation to the course and continue with our first lecture topic: A brief history of madness.

What's included

11 videos2 readings1 peer review1 discussion prompt

11 videosTotal 119 minutes

Welcome to the course!2 minutesPreview module
1.0 Introduction 7 minutes
1.1 Visiting the asylum 9 minutes
1.2 Why the asylum? 20 minutes
1.3 20th century mental health care 14 minutes
1.4 Antipsychiatry 12 minutes
1.5 Deinstitutionalization 15 minutes
1.6 Community-based mental health care 15 minutes
1.7 Recovery and mental health 11 minutes
1.8 Conclusion 4 minutes
Bonus material: An introduction to author Caroline Fei-Yeng Kwok 6 minutes

2 readingsTotal 20 minutes

Course Information10 minutes
Readings and Resources10 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 60 minutes

Commentary60 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Introductions10 minutes

What's included

8 videos1 reading1 discussion prompt

8 videosTotal 76 minutes

2.0 introduction to lecture 2 3 minutesPreview module
2.1 defining mental health 7 minutes
2.2 what is mental illness? 12 minutes
2.3 social determinants of mental health 9 minutes
2.4 SDoH in action 14 minutes
2.5 the biopsychosocial perspective on mental health 13 minutes
2.6 applying the biopsychosocial perspective 12 minutes
2.7 Conclusion 4 minutes

1 readingTotal 10 minutes

Readings and Resources10 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Key social determinants of mental health in your local community10 minutes

What's included

9 videos1 reading1 assignment1 peer review2 discussion prompts

9 videosTotal 105 minutes

3.0 Introduction to lecture 3 8 minutesPreview module
3.1 Demystifying the DSM 15 minutes
3.2 Diagnosis as a series of social events 15 minutes
3.3 Diagnosis: An example of the role of social context 17 minutes
3.4a The social context of treatment options 12 minutes
3.4b The social context of treatment options part 2 9 minutes
3.5 The social context of treatment access 11 minutes
3.6 Conclusion 3 minutes
From summer 2014: what's with the DSM?12 minutes

1 readingTotal 10 minutes

Readings and Resources10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Extra-credit quiz30 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 60 minutes

Personal Reflection60 minutes

2 discussion promptsTotal 20 minutes

Psychiatric Diagnoses and Genera Medical Diagnoses10 minutes
Involuntary treatment10 minutes

What's included

8 videos1 reading1 discussion prompt

8 videosTotal 75 minutes

4.0 introduction to lecture 4 4 minutesPreview module
4.1 culture mental health mental illness 7 minutes
4.2 culture & mental health in historical context 15 minutes
4.3 culture and mental health 14 minutes
4.4 culture and mental illness 11 minutes
4.5 an example of intersections between culture and mental health 8 minutes
4.6 cultural competence and multicultural mental health care 12 minutes
4.7 Conclusions 2 minutes

1 readingTotal 10 minutes

Readings and Resources10 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Mental Illness Experience and Perspectives10 minutes

What's included

6 videos1 reading1 discussion prompt

6 videosTotal 52 minutes

5.0 introduction to lecture 5 5 minutesPreview module
5.1 families and mental health 8 minutes
5.2 do families cause mental illness - no 15 minutes
5.3 families and caregiving 15 minutes
5.4 families and recovery 5 minutes
5.5 conclusions 2 minutes

1 readingTotal 10 minutes

Readings and Resources10 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Family Guide to Mental Health Recovery interviews10 minutes

What's included

7 videos1 reading1 peer review1 discussion prompt

7 videosTotal 72 minutes

6.0 introduction to lecture 6 5 minutesPreview module
6.1 stigma and mental illness 18 minutes
6.2a a life course approach to preventing mental disorders part 1 11 minutes
6.2b a life course approach to preventing mental disorders part 2 8 minutes
6.3 interventions to promote community mental health 12 minutes
6.4 towards community that support mental health 13 minutes
6.5 conclusions 3 minutes

1 readingTotal 10 minutes

Readings and Resources10 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 60 minutes

Final Assignment60 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Investing in Mental Health10 minutes

Instructor

Instructor ratings

4.8 (223 ratings)

Charmaine Williams

University of Toronto

1 Course55,848 learners

Offered by

University of Toronto

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Reviewed on Aug 13, 2023

I am amazed and overwhelmed after completing this course because it will help me to reach my destination. This excellent course has been designed with utmost sincerity and care.

Reviewed on Oct 25, 2017

Facilitator is very engaging and brings the subject to life. Will definitely recommend to anyone with any remote interest in mental hea

Reviewed on Feb 20, 2019

It was so structured and meaningfully engaging. Loved every part of it . Thank you Charmaine for bringing this course to coursera. Lots of best wishes to you.

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