BSc Psychology

The course unit will focus on contemporary intervention approaches and frameworks to support and promote mental health. Lecturers with mental health expertise will explain various intervention approaches and innovations for common adult mental health issues. Cognitive behavioural, metacognitive, and compassion-based approaches will be covered, as well as digital and culturally-adapted interventions. Coverage will include underlying theory and key concepts, therapeutic techniques and recent innovations and evaluation of scientific evidence.

Participating in interactive workshops will enhance understanding of how mental health interventions and techniques apply across diverse contexts (e.g. cultural groups, community settings, digital apps) and mental health conditions (e.g. depression, anxiety, psychosis and trauma), including issues that are relevant across conditions. Experiential exercises and examination of case studies will bring these strategies to life. Assignment support seminars provide guided activities with a worked example and provides students with opportunities for formative feedback, Students will be encouraged to approach the content sensitively and professionally, and to apply knowledge and innovative thinking to their assessment.

This optional Year 2 unit builds on basic concepts and ideas gained from Year 1 Individual Differences in Mental Health and Distress by expanding understanding of evidence-based interventions with a focus on contemporary approaches, innovations and utilising technologies to widen access. The unit combines lectures, workshops, seminars and directed self-study to help prepare students for independent study and project work at Level 6. The unit also provides a theoretical foundation and working knowledge of therapeutic approaches to facilitate readiness for the Final Year Clinical Psychology unit, and an understanding of intervention design that prepares students for Final Year unit, Lifestyle Behaviour Change.

The unit aims to:

• provide an understanding of contemporary intervention approaches to support mental health and insight into psychological techniques, guided by experts in mental health research and practice
• develop students’ confidence in applying theoretical knowledge to intervention design and practice, encouraging innovative thinking to address the mental health challenges in contemporary society
• develop interpersonal skills to communicate mental health concepts, techniques and processes effectively in a professional, ethical and sensitive manner
• equip students with a basic understanding of the relationships between theory, research and practice for improving mental health, and the process through which interventions become evidence based
• equip students with foundational skills in intervention development, understanding that the effectiveness of strategies can depend on individual mental health need and context
• foster ethically minded and socially responsible thinkers by enhancing understanding of cultural, ethical and social considerations in relation to mental health practice and research 

• 6 hours of in-person weekly lectures – 6 x 50-minute sessions
• 6 hours of directed e-learning provision: 6 x 1-hour asynchronous core content to support the lecture content, including research articles, videos, texts and other sources
• 9 hours of in-person workshops – 6 x 80-minute interactive workshops designed to enhance understanding of interventions in practice as applied to various contexts
• 6 hours of assessment support – 3 x 50-minute asynchronous assignment guidance and 3 x 1 hour online drop-in Q&A sessions
• Additional e-learnng provision: PowerPoint presentations, lecture podcasts, reading lists detailing key papers, recommended supplementary reading, links to relevant online resources, and a monitored discussion board

• Understand theoretical approaches and apply multiple perspectives and to supporting mental health and wellbeing, recognising diversity and variability in effectiveness and experience.
• Demonstrate specialised knowledge in mental health intervention science, some of which is at the cutting edge, as they apply to different contexts, settings and cultures.
• Understand the current evidence base supporting different intervention approaches, based on a range of research methods, and be familiar with current debates and conceptual issues in mental health practice and clinical guidelines

• Systematically analyse and apply different intervention approaches and contexts to solve a range of theoretical and real-world issues related to enhancing mental health and wellbeing. 
• Apply scientific reasoning and evidence-based analysis to evaluate theories, research and arguments related to mental health interventions.
• Ethically apply psychological knowledge, valuing participatory research and the perspectives of those with lived experience to inform intervention developments and adaptations.
• Appreciate the conceptual roots of different intervention approaches to mental health.

• Demonstrate understanding of quantitative and qualitative data collection techniques to reason analytically and evaluate research findings on the effectiveness and application of interventions to enhance mental health and wellbeing in diverse groups.
• Drawing on relevant theory and practice, design and communicate an intervention plan, recognising the practical and ethical issues with implementation.
• Encourage the development of reflective capacity, including self-awareness, perspective taking and empathy, ethical considerations, and continuing personal development.

• Collaboratively engaging in interactive tasks using sensitive and inclusive language, an ethical stance and valuing a variety of perspectives to reach consensus and for more productive outcomes.
• Independently gather and select the most relevant information from a body of work using a range of sources and tools responsibly (library, online searches, electronic databases, artificial intelligence).
• Apply forward-thinking, scientific and flexible approaches and solutions to mental health and mental wellbeing in work settings and in everyday life.
• Communicate topics effectively and sensitively through written, oral, and visual means.
• Manage learning through effective personal planning, task management, and digital literacy skills.

Students will receive a grade with written feedback 20 working days after the final submission deadline

Each session will be supported with provided core reading and recommended reading.