MSc Mental Health and Well-Being in Education

Course Overview

The course is suitable for a range of professions engaged in mental health and well-being in education, such as head teachers, teachers, social workers, school nurses, educational psychologists, police and youth justice.

The course is designed for professionals and graduates wishing to understand and optimise the role of mental health and well-being within the education system.

It offers detailed exploration of mental health and well-being across the lifespan within this setting, and unprecedented understanding of factors by which it may be influenced, in learners or students of any age.

This is a training in awareness and practices that may be adopted in an applicant's existing profession rather than training as a psychology professional.

What will this course cover?

The first year explores the psychology of development across the lifespan. In parallel, the course will also examine how often individual action in the educational environment can be an act of influence and leadership towards change. In addition, you will explore research- based interventions in education.

The second year looks in more depth at ways of achieving change. This will include an introduction to basic Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) principles, and the application of positive psychology research-based processes.

You will learn research methods skills oriented to the workplace and application, and student choices for a dissertation project.

You have the option to study this course over three years and dedicate the third year to completing your dissertation. There is also the choice of completing the Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma that does not involve completing a dissertation project.

Course Details

• An online, part-time MSc designed for the working professional.
• Options to study the course as a PGCert or PGDip.
• Exploration of key subject topics and current issues influencing mental health and well-being.
• An experience of highly interactive distance learning that challenges and engages students and provides contact with other students in similar and related professions.
• A professionally active teaching team that provides a culture of care oriented to students' personal goals.
• A focus on research-based interventions in the educational environment, along with how individual influence and behaviour may support change.
• Attention paid to the mental health and well-being of professionals in, and working in support of, the education system.

What are my career prospects

This programme will give you a critical understanding of the key moments and contexts in which mental health in learners of any age may be influenced and changed.

You will be able to identify, define and utilise specific intervention pathways through which mental health can be influenced in education. These will include classroom skills, the use of basic cognitive behavioural therapy skills and positive psychology as well as the management of stress.

This course will also give you a personal and occupational insight into how the views, beliefs and behaviours of professionals influence mental health. Students will also achieve PgCert and PgDip exit awards during this course.