The Social Context of Mental Health and Illness

University of Toronto

About this Course

Learn how social factors promote mental health, influence the onset and course of mental illness, and affect how mental illnesses are diagnosed and treated. This course explores how our understanding of mental health and illness has been influenced by social attitudes and social developments in North America and around the world. The course begins by situating our contemporary mental health practices in historical context, then looks at different aspects of mental health, mental illness and mental health services and their connections to what’s going on in our social environment.

100% online courses

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Approx. 22 hours to complete

Suggested: 4 hours/week

English

Subtitles: English

100% online courses

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Approx. 22 hours to complete

Suggested: 4 hours/week

English

Subtitles: English

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

1

Section

4 hours to complete

Welcome and A Brief History of Madness

We begin with a quick orientation to the course and continue with our first lecture topic: A brief history of madness....

11 videos (Total 120 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz

11 videos

Welcome to the course!2m

1.0 Introduction 7m

1.1 Visiting the asylum 9m

1.2 Why the asylum? 20m

1.3 20th century mental health care 14m

1.4 Antipsychiatry 12m

1.5 Deinstitutionalization 15m

1.6 Community-based mental health care 15m

1.7 Recovery and mental health 11m

1.8 Conclusion 4m

Bonus material: An introduction to author Caroline Fei-Yeng Kwok 6m

2 readings

Course Information10m

Readings and Resources10m

2

Section

2 hours to complete

What is mental health and what causes mental illness?

...

8 videos (Total 77 min), 1 reading

8 videos

2.0 introduction to lecture 2 3m

2.1 defining mental health 7m

2.2 what is mental illness? 12m

2.3 social determinants of mental health 9m

2.4 SDoH in action 14m

2.5 the biopsychosocial perspective on mental health 13m

2.6 applying the biopsychosocial perspective 12m

2.7 Conclusion 4m

1 readings

Readings and Resources10m

3

Section

4 hours to complete

The social context of diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses

...

9 videos (Total 105 min), 1 reading, 2 quizzes

9 videos

3.0 Introduction to lecture 3 8m

3.1 Demystifying the DSM 15m

3.2 Diagnosis as a series of social events 15m

3.3 Diagnosis: An example of the role of social context 17m

3.4a The social context of treatment options 12m

3.4b The social context of treatment options part 2 9m

3.5 The social context of treatment access 11m

3.6 Conclusion 3m

From summer 2014: what's with the DSM?12m

1 readings

Readings and Resources10m

1 practice exercises

Extra-credit quiz20m

4

Section

2 hours to complete

Culture, mental health and mental illness

...

8 videos (Total 76 min), 1 reading

8 videos

4.0 introduction to lecture 4 4m

4.1 culture mental health mental illness 7m

4.2 culture & mental health in historical context 15m

4.3 culture and mental health 14m

4.4 culture and mental illness 11m

4.5 an example of intersections between culture and mental health 8m

4.6 cultural competence and multicultural mental health care 12m

4.7 Conclusions 2m

1 readings

Readings and Resources10m

5

Section

1 hour to complete

Families, caregiving and mental illness

...

6 videos (Total 53 min), 1 reading

6 videos

5.0 introduction to lecture 5 5m

5.1 families and mental health 8m

5.2 do families cause mental illness - no 15m

5.3 families and caregiving 15m

5.4 families and recovery 5m

5.5 conclusions 2m

1 readings

Readings and Resources10m

6

Section

3 hours to complete

society, communities and mental health

...

7 videos (Total 73 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

7 videos

6.0 introduction to lecture 6 5m

6.1 stigma and mental illness 18m

6.2a a life course approach to preventing mental disorders part 1 11m

6.2b a life course approach to preventing mental disorders part 2 8m

6.3 interventions to promote community mental health 12m

6.4 towards community that support mental health 13m

6.5 conclusions 3m

1 readings

Readings and Resources10m

Instructor

Charmaine Williams

Associate Professor

About University of Toronto

Established in 1827, the University of Toronto has one of the strongest research and teaching faculties in North America, presenting top students at all levels with an intellectual environment unmatched in depth and breadth on any other Canadian campus. ...

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). Peer review assignments can only be submitted and reviewed once your session has begun. If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.
What will I get if I pay for this course?
If you pay for this course, you will have access to all of the features and content you need to earn a Course Certificate. If you complete the course successfully, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. Note that the Course Certificate does not represent official academic credit from the partner institution offering the course.
What is the refund policy?
Is financial aid available?
Yes! Coursera provides financial aid to learners who would like to complete a course but cannot afford the course fee. To apply for aid, select "Learn more and apply" in the Financial Aid section below the "Enroll" button. You'll be prompted to complete a simple application; no other paperwork is required.

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The Social Context of Mental Health and Illness