PgCert; PgDip; MSc PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH
| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2023-09-19 | - |
Program Overview
This course offers the opportunity to gain a recognised postgraduate award at Certificate, Diploma or Masters level, enhancing your employability prospects.
This course has been designed as a positive response to the national imperative for more education and training for healthcare professionals in perinatal mental health, and has been designed to equip healthcare professionals who may require knowledge at different levels and to meet different service needs. Modules offer an opportunity to explore different aspects of perinatal mental health and to increase your knowledge and skills in relation to complex and challenging issues within perinatal mental health.
In addition, this course is also offered to non-health and social care professionals who have experience of working in the mental health or woman’s health field or voluntary organisations, who want the opportunity to engage with the wider issues of perinatal mental health.
Reasons to study here
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Great teaching:
Academic staff are health and social care professionals with a wealth of experience, and are committed to providing inspirational research-led teaching within a dynamic learning environment
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Professional links:
Studying as a postgraduate student will increase networking opportunities intrinsic to career development and will enhance access to professionals in the field
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Industry relevant:
Modules are supported by experts from across the NHS and social care organisations, and benefit from a strong service user perspective. The variety of modules ensures perinatal mental health is addressed from a range of perspectives
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Work and study balance:
The course is offered on a part-time basis to maintain a balance between work and study, you can also choose whether to study at Certificate, Diploma or Masters levelAddressing sector needs
Whilst there is growing evidence that poor maternal mental health has an impact on the physical, social and cognitive development of children; poor assessment and detection, support and treatment of women, result in long term morbidity including low self-esteem and poor family relationships. More worryingly, suicide is documented as one of the leading causes of maternal deaths.
Whilst NHS England aims to reduce the incidence and impact of perinatal mental illness through early diagnosis and improved intervention and support, there is mounting concern regarding the patchy availability of perinatal services and the provision of education and training. This course has been developed to address these needs, by providing education and training for healthcare professionals in perinatal mental health.
You can apply for the PgCert, and then continue to the PgDip and MSc if you choose to. Alternatively, you can apply for the full MSc course, which includes the PgCert and PgDip modules as well as a dissertation.
Program Outline
Some compulsory skills sessions may take place in the evening.
Year 1 - 2 (PgCert)
This module will enable you to develop a firm foundation of knowledge and skills in relation to perinatal mental health. This module is available as a stand-alone basis and as a core module on the PG Cert, PG Dip and MSc Perinatal Mental Health.
This module explores the concept of early prevention, early prediction and early screening in relation to perinatal mental health illness during pregnancy and the puerperium. Aspects related to risk assessment and relevant screening tools will be explored and critically analysed.
This module will enable you to critically appraise the socio-cultural context of the care of women with antenatal and postnatal mental health problems. It will explore socio-cultural theories of mental health and consider the influence of social inequalities and the concept of vulnerability.
Year 3 - 4 (PgDip)
This Module explores key factors which together enable professionals to begin to critically reflect upon their current service and to design and implement innovations and changes in health and social care services.
This module will examine strategies to support women and families recovering from serious perinatal mental health problems; promoting early intervention to support attachment and positive parenting; and to promote mental health and wellbeing to prevent relapse where pre-existing history of mental illness exist.
The purpose of this module is to consolidate and extend your knowledge of research approaches and methods and enhance your ability to be a critical user of research evidence.
Year 5 (MSc)
This module provides the opportunity to undertake original enquiry in a chosen area of professional practice.
