Mental Health: Cultural Psychology and Psychiatry PGDip

Program Overview

This MSc program in Cultural Psychology and Psychiatry delves into the impact of socio-cultural factors on mental health, diagnosis, and treatment. It equips students with critical thinking, intercultural competence, and research skills, preparing them for careers in mental health services, NGOs, and research institutions. The program emphasizes the importance of cultural competency in providing equitable and effective mental healthcare.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

You’ll understand the cultural contexts of mental health problems, learn about the innovative ways care is delivered cross-culturally and gain experience of working with people from diverse cultural backgrounds.

The programme will build on the knowledge you have already acquired through previous study or work experience and help you to develop the following key skills:

• Critical analysis and evaluation of complex issues
• Critical thinking and argument building skills
• Intercultural competence and ethical awareness
• Reflective practice
• Effective communication and presentation
• To explore the role of culture in mental health service provision and policy development

Outline:

• Mental Health in Context
This module provides students with knowledge about how mental health can be viewed in different contexts. From causal and protective factors to prevention, stigmatization, rehabilitation and social integration. It is also aimed at addressing contemporary issues, such as the impact of digital technology on mental health and the extent to which world crises can affect the onset and prognosis of mental illness. Issues or health inequalities, continuity of care and accessibility to mental health care are also addressed.
• Cultural Psychology and Psychiatry: Theory and Method
This module equips students with knowledge of core skills employed by Mental Health professionals in their workplace. The module maps out both classic and contemporary work in mental health settings and relates theory and research to practice, particularly in psychotherapy. Students are introduced to research evaluating cultural competency at different levels of service delivery including culturally adapted psychological therapies, culturally appropriate assessment tools, clinical and organizational strategies to improve accessibility of mental health services, cultural competency training frameworks as well as strategic approaches to equitable global mental health care. Students will have the opportunity to learn about the importance and effectiveness of these different approaches and how they are used to enhance and improve available psychological interventions and systems of service delivery to treat a range of mental illnesses across diverse populations. Students will be submitting a reflective piece based on their work/clinical placement.

-Applied Research Methods 1: Theory

This module provides students with essential knowledge and skills about Applied Research Methods. The general aim is to equip students with transferable skills that can be either used towards completing an empirical project or conducting a systematic review.

-Applied Research Methods 2: Practice

This module provides students with practical application of Applied Research Methods. The general aim is to equip students with transferable skills that can be either used towards completing an empirical project or conducting a systematic review. There is no taught component in this module, except for 4 hours of tutorial sessions delivered on alternate weeks. These 4 sessions will be complementary to 5 tutorial sessions delivered in Semester 2 for Psychological Therapies:Paradigms and Systems and Psychological Therapies: applications and Effectiveness. The aim of these 4 tutorial sessions is to provide academic support for their completion of their Pilot study.

• Psychological Therapies:Paradigms and Systems
This module introduces students to a range of psychotherapies rooted in a variety of theoretical and philosophical perspectives, including cognitive-behaviour therapy (CBT), humanistic and person-centred therapies, psychodynamic therapies, systemic and family therapy.
• Psychological Therapies: applications and Effectiveness
This module focuses on the application, efficacy, and effectiveness of various psychological therapies, such as CBT and other therapies such as Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Schema therapy and mindfulness-based interventions, for different mental health conditions, including anxiety and mood disorders, personality disorders and trauma. The module will also explore the role and importance of cultural factors in therapy.

Assessment:

Assessment

You’ll be taught through a mix of formal lectures and small group seminars. The seminars may involve student presentations, group exercise and role-play. We take pride in the close and friendly working relationship we have with our students. You’ll be assigned an Academic Adviser, who will guide you in both academic and pastoral matters throughout your time at Queen Mary. If you’re a part-time student, you'll take 75 taught credits in Year 1 and 45 taught credits in Year 2. This is a rapidly growing area, with increasing employment opportunities in both the UK and internationally, both in clinical and research roles, in NGOs, government agencies, advocacy and user-led organizations. This is a challenging and rewarding area to work in.

Careers:

The skills this programme gives you are valuable for work in:

• psychiatric or psychological services
• homelessness agencies
• learning disabilities services or forensic services
• third sector organisations serving refugees and migrants
• NGOs
• and legal services.
We’ll help you prepare your CV, work on interview technique, and develop some clinical skills if you want to consider more advanced and accredited courses. The course has allowed practicing clinicians to develop their own practice with culturally diverse populations and to implement cultural competency programmes in their services.

Students who have completed this course have gone on to:

• pursue research doctorates in clinical psychology
• assistant psychologist roles within the NHS and third sector
• research assistant roles.

Entry requirements

A 2:2 or above at undergraduate level

in Psychology, Medicine or a related discipline.

International

Degree requirements

A 2:2 or above at undergraduate level

Full-time studySeptember 2024 | 9 monthsHome: £7,650Overseas: £16,000EU/EEA/Swiss studentsUnconditional depositHome: Not applicableOverseas: £2000Information about depositsPart-time studySeptember 2024 | 21 monthsHome: £3,850Overseas: £8,000EU/EEA/Swiss studentsThe course fee is charged per annum for 2 years.