Perinatal Mental Health - PgCert / PgDip / MSc

Program Overview

This postgraduate program in perinatal mental health equips healthcare and non-healthcare professionals with comprehensive knowledge and skills to enhance employability in the field. The program covers early prevention, assessment, and management of maternal mental health conditions, as well as research and innovation in service change.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This postgraduate program offers a recognized award at Certificate, Diploma, or Masters level, enhancing employability prospects. It addresses the national need for more education and training in perinatal mental health, equipping healthcare professionals with knowledge and skills to meet diverse service needs. The program also caters to non-health and social care professionals with experience in mental health, women's health, or voluntary organizations, providing them with a deeper understanding of perinatal mental health issues.

Objectives:

• To develop a firm foundation of knowledge and skills in relation to perinatal mental health.
• To promote mental health and wellbeing to prevent relapse where pre-existing history of mental illness exists.
• To consolidate and extend knowledge of research approaches and methods and enhance the ability to be a critical user of research evidence.
• To undertake original enquiry in a chosen area of professional practice.

Outline:

Year 1 - 2 (PgCert)

• Principles of Perinatal Mental Health: This module provides a foundation of knowledge and skills in perinatal mental health.
It is available as a standalone module and as a core module for the PgCert, PgDip, and MSc Perinatal Mental Health. It examines risk assessment and relevant screening tools. It also aims to promote mental health and wellbeing to prevent relapse in cases of pre-existing mental illness.
• Research in Health and Social Care: This module consolidates and extends knowledge of research approaches and methods, enhancing the ability to be a critical user of research evidence.

Year 5 (MSc)

Teaching:

• Students are allocated a personal tutor upon commencement of the course.
• Modules are supported by experts from across the NHS and social care organizations, benefiting from a strong service user perspective.

Careers:

• The course equips students to care for women and families experiencing mental health issues with more confidence and competence, fulfilling the need within current universal services.
• It increases employability as a healthcare professional involved in the provision of care for women during pregnancy and the puerperium.
• Students can seek more specialist positions within specialist perinatal mental health services.
• For non-health and social care professionals working in voluntary sector organizations (including charities) and private companies, the course enhances knowledge of perinatal mental health, strengthening their contribution at a higher level or enabling them to seek further employment opportunities within voluntary sector organizations or the NHS.

Other:

• The course is offered on a part-time basis to maintain a balance between work and study.
• Students can choose to study at Certificate, Diploma, or Masters level.
• The program addresses the growing evidence that poor maternal mental health impacts the physical, social, and cognitive development of children.
• Poor assessment, detection, support, and treatment of women result in long-term morbidity, including low self-esteem and poor family relationships.
• Suicide is documented as one of the leading causes of maternal deaths.
• The NHS aims to reduce the incidence and impact of perinatal mental illness through early diagnosis and improved intervention and support.
• There is concern regarding the patchy availability of perinatal services and the provision of education and training.
• Some compulsory skills sessions may take place in the evening.

UK Fees £2570 Int. Fees £3977.78 Tuition fees are subject to annual inflationary increases. The fees for international students are reviewed annually and the University reserves the right to increase the tuition fees in line with the RPIX measure of inflation up to 4 per cent. Postgraduate loan (PGL) for Masters study If you are starting a Masters course, studying either full- or part-time, you may be entitled to apply for a postgraduate study loan. Scholarships Fee status International students The course is not currently open to international students.