Interventions to Improve Mental Health

PSYC21032 Interventions to Improve Mental Health 10 Semester 2 Undergraduate Level 5 Ming Wan Unit coordinator Division of Psychology and Mental Health 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Middle part of Bachelors ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 5.0 This six-week compressed unit introduces contemporary approaches to supporting and managing mental health. Students will learn about well established and emerging evidence informed interventions, including cognitive behavioural, metacognitive, compassion focused, digital mental health apps, and yoga-based approaches. Mental wellbeing and mental health difficulties are explored in a holistic, person-centred way rather than through diagnostic or reductionist frameworks, with examples drawn from both clinical and non-clinical contexts.Teaching is delivered through a blend of in-person lectures, structured asynchronous mixed media content, in-person interactive workshops, and pre-recorded seminars. Core content includes underlying theory, key concepts, therapeutic techniques or intervention features, evaluation of the research evidence, and recent innovations. Workshops deepen understanding of how psychological approaches and techniques apply across diverse contexts and mental health conditions, supported by case studies and brief experiential exercises. Learning about common mental health conditions—such as depression, anxiety, psychosis, trauma, and transdiagnostic difficulties—is embedded throughout. Assignment support seminars provide step-by-step guidance with worked examples to help students apply their learning confidently and professionally.Building on Year 1 Individual Differences in Mental Health and Distress, this unit extends students’ understanding of psychotherapeutic and other interventions, their evidence base, and their delivery. It emphasises contemporary and technology-enabled approaches designed to broaden access to mental health support. Through lectures, seminars, workshops, and self-directed study, students will be well prepared for Year 3 units in Clinical Psychology, Lifestyle Behaviour Change, and independent project work.  This six-week compressed unit introduces contemporary approaches to supporting and managing mental health. Students will learn about well established and emerging evidence informed interventions, including cognitive behavioural, metacognitive, compassion focused, digital mental health apps, and yoga-based approaches. Mental wellbeing and mental health difficulties are explored in a holistic, person-centred way rather than through diagnostic or reductionist frameworks, with examples drawn from both clinical and non-clinical contexts.Teaching is delivered through a blend of in-person lectures, structured asynchronous mixed media content, in-person interactive workshops, and pre-recorded seminars. Core content includes underlying theory, key concepts, therapeutic techniques or intervention features, evaluation of the research evidence, and recent innovations. Workshops deepen understanding of how psychological approaches and techniques apply across diverse contexts and mental health conditions, supported by case studies and brief experiential exercises. Learning about common mental health conditions—such as depression, anxiety, psychosis, trauma, and transdiagnostic difficulties—is embedded throughout. Assignment support seminars provide step-by-step guidance with worked examples to help students apply their learning confidently and professionally.Building on Year 1 Individual Differences in Mental Health and Distress, this unit extends students’ understanding of psychotherapeutic and other interventions, their evidence base, and their delivery. It emphasises contemporary and technology-enabled approaches designed to broaden access to mental health support. Through lectures, seminars, workshops, and self-directed study, students will be well prepared for Year 3 units in Clinical Psychology, Lifestyle Behaviour Change, and independent project work.  The unit aims to:<ul><li>provide a foundational understanding of a range of contemporary intervention approaches to support mental health and insights into psychological techniques</li><li>develop students’ confidence to apply theoretical knowledge to intervention design and practice, encouraging innovative ways to address the mental health challenges in contemporary society</li><li>develop the interpersonal skills to communicate effectively about mental health concepts, techniques and processes in a professional, ethical and sensitive manner</li><li>equip students with a basic understanding of the relationships between theory, research and practice for improving mental health, and the process through which interventions become evidence based  </li><li>equip students with foundational skills in intervention development, understanding that the effectiveness of strategies can depend on individual mental health need and context</li><li>foster ethically minded and socially responsible thinkers by enhancing understanding of ethical and social considerations in relation to mental health practice and research</li></ul> <ul><li>Understand theoretical approaches and apply multiple perspectives and to supporting mental health and wellbeing, recognising diversity and variability in effectiveness and experience.</li><li>Demonstrate specialised knowledge in mental health intervention science, some of which is at the cutting edge, as they apply to different contexts and settings.</li><li>Understand the current evidence base supporting different intervention approaches, based on a range of research methods, and be familiar with current debates and conceptual issues in mental health practice and clinical guidelines </li></ul> <ul><li>Systematically analyse and apply different intervention approaches and contexts to solve a range of theoretical and real-world issues related to enhancing mental health and wellbeing.</li><li>Apply scientific reasoning and evidence-based analysis to evaluate theories, research and arguments related to mental health interventions.</li><li>Ethically apply psychological knowledge, valuing participatory research and the perspectives of those with lived experience to inform intervention developments.</li><li>Appreciate the conceptual roots of different intervention approaches to mental health. </li></ul> <ul><li>Apply analytical reasoning and critical evaluation skills to research using quantitative and qualitative methodologies in order to assess the effectiveness, implementation, and contextual relevance of mental health interventions across diverse populations.</li><li>Engage with and reflect on the learning content with empathy, ethical reasoning, self-awareness, perspective-taking, and critical thinking.  </li><li>Drawing on relevant theory and practice, design and communicate an intervention plan, recognising the practical and ethical issues with implementation </li></ul> <ul><li>Engage collaboratively with others on interactive tasks about psychological techniques, using sensitive and inclusive language and an ethical stance and valuing a variety of perspectives.</li><li>Independently gather and select the most relevant information from a body of work using a range of sources and tools responsibly (library, online searches, electronic databases, artificial intelligence).</li><li>Apply forward-thinking, scientific and flexible approaches and solutions to mental health and mental wellbeing in work settings and in everyday life.</li><li>Communicate topics effectively and sensitively through written, oral, and visual means. </li></ul> <ul><li>6 hours of in-person weekly lectures - 6 x 50-minute sessions</li><li>6 hours of directed e-learning provision: 6 x 1-hour asynchronous mixed media core content to support the in-person content</li><li>9 hours of in-person workshops - 5 x 80-minute interactive workshops</li><li>designed to enhance understanding of intervention approaches in practice in a range of contexts</li><li>5 hours of assessment support -1 x 80-minute workshop (included in 9h total above), 5 x 1-hour seminars and a 1-hour optional Q&A drop-in</li><li>Additional e-learning provision: PowerPoint presentation slides, lecture podcasts, reading lists detailing key papers, recommended supplementary reading, links to relevant online resources, and a monitored discussion board </li></ul> 0 Other 100% <figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Assessment</td><td>Length</td><td>How and when feedback is provided</td><td>Weighting within unit (if relevant)</td></tr><tr><td>Coursework: Design, describe and justify a mental health intervention</td><td>1500 words </td><td>Students will receive a grade with written feedback. Formative peer feedback will be provided. </td><td>100%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> Students will receive a grade with written feedback 20 working days after the final submission deadline PSYC11411 Individual Differences in Mental Health and Wellbeing Pre-Requisite Compulsory N Each session will be supported with provided core reading and recommended reading. Lectures 6 Practical classes & workshops 9 Work based learning 6 0 79