MSc Perinatal Mental Health

Program Overview

This MSc Perinatal Mental Health program is a three-year distance learning program for health and social care professionals. Delivered online, it enhances existing skills in perinatal mental health, including risk management, care, and global issues. Through a combination of self-directed learning, online tutorials, elective modules, and a final dissertation, graduates are equipped to pursue careers in targeted perinatal mental health teams, specialist roles in health and social care, and lead roles within their current registration.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This MSc Perinatal Mental Health program is a distance learning program designed for health and social care professionals seeking to specialize in perinatal mental health. The program aims to enhance existing skills and provide a comprehensive understanding of perinatal mental health, including risk management, care, and global issues.

Outline:

The program is structured over three years and delivered through online distance learning. It combines self-directed learning with online tutorials, allowing students to study at their own pace and around their existing commitments.

Year 1:

• Mental Health Recovery And Maternal Care: This module covers the complexities of mental health recovery and maternal care, exploring the interplay between these two aspects.
• Perinatal Mental Health And The Family: This module delves into the impact of perinatal mental health on the family unit, examining the dynamics and challenges faced by families.

Year 2:

• Researching For Practice (Distance Learning): This module equips students with the skills and knowledge to conduct research relevant to their practice, focusing on the application of research findings.
• Elective Modules: Students can choose from a range of elective modules to tailor their learning to their specific interests and career goals.
Some of the available electives include:
• Advanced Communication In Supportive Care:
This module focuses on enhancing communication skills in supportive care settings, particularly relevant for perinatal mental health professionals.
• Contemporary Issues In Advancing Practice (Distance Learning): This module explores current trends and challenges in advancing practice within the field of perinatal mental health.
• Early Intervention In Child, Adolescent And Family Mental Health: This module examines early intervention strategies for mental health issues in children, adolescents, and families.
• Enhancing Practice In Child, Adolescent And Family Mental Health: This module focuses on practical strategies for enhancing practice in child, adolescent, and family mental health.
• Evaluating Service Improvement (Distance Learning): This module equips students with the skills to evaluate service improvement initiatives, ensuring effectiveness and positive outcomes.
• Health Promotion And Lifestyle Management: This module explores the role of health promotion and lifestyle management in perinatal mental health.
• Leadership In Practice (Distance Learning): This module develops leadership skills relevant to perinatal mental health practice, empowering students to take on leadership roles.
• Learners In Difficulty (Distance Learning): This module addresses the needs of learners facing difficulties, providing support and strategies for success.
• Learning And Teaching For Practice: This module focuses on the principles and practices of learning and teaching, equipping students to become effective educators.
• Loss, Grief And Bereavement: This module explores the complexities of loss, grief, and bereavement in the context of perinatal mental health.
• Planning Service Improvement (Distance Learning): This module provides students with the skills to plan and implement service improvement initiatives.

Year 3:

• Dissertation 60 Credits: This module involves the completion of a substantial research project, allowing students to delve deeper into a specific area of interest within perinatal mental health.

Assessment:

The program utilizes a variety of assessment methods, including:

• Coursework: This includes essays, reports, presentations, and other written assignments.
• Practical Assessments: These may involve simulations, case studies, or other practical exercises.
• Dissertation: This is a major research project undertaken in the final year of the program.

Teaching:

The program is delivered through a combination of online learning materials, virtual support resources, and online collaboration with other learners. Students receive virtual support and signposting during induction to ensure they are prepared for the online learning environment.

Careers:

Upon graduation, students will be equipped to pursue a range of career paths in perinatal mental health, including:

• Targeted perinatal mental health (PMH) teams: This could involve working in specialized teams dedicated to providing mental health support to mothers and families during the perinatal period.
• Specialist roles in health and social care: Graduates may find roles in various health and social care settings, applying their expertise in perinatal mental health.
• PMH lead roles within their current registration: The program can prepare students to take on leadership roles within their existing professional settings, advocating for and improving perinatal mental health services.

Other:

The program emphasizes applied learning through live projects, allowing students to engage with real-life case studies and develop their critical analysis skills.

The tuition fee displayed above is for the full course. If the full course is more than one year in duration, the fee will be divided into annual payments which will then be rounded. This may mean the total fee you pay is slightly higher than the fee stated above. If you take a break in study or have to re-take part of the course, you may also be charged an additional fee and will be notified of this at the time. Our tuition fee for UK students starting part-time study in 2024/25 is £3,440 per year. If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. The tuition fee displayed above is for the full course. If the full course is more than one year in duration, the fee will be divided into annual payments which will then be rounded. This may mean the total fee you pay is slightly higher than the fee stated above. If you take a break in study or have to re-take part of the course, you may also be charged an additional fee and will be notified of this at the time.