This module provides opportunities to consider significant aspects of the following and their relevance to the practice of psychotherapy;
• Current approaches in the management and treatment of "Mental Illness", including the role of mental health nurses, occupational therapists and psychiatrists
• Different drug treatments, effects and short and long term side- effects
• The basics of the legislative and organisational framework, including the Mental Health Act, the Care Programme Approach and the various agencies involved
• Skills in assessing and responding to the range of responses to shock and trauma, bereavement and spiritual crisis and differentiating these from severe mental illness
• Historical developments in Mental Health
• Body systems: Endocrine, Metabolic, Respiratory, Neurological and body movement: gesture, kinesics and motion
• Pharmacology
• Psychopathology and the DSM/ICD
• Psychiatry and Psychotherapy

Mental Health Familiarisation - Observational Placement (PASS/FAIL)
In order to ensure learning outcomes are fulfilled you are required to secure a placement which provides an opportunity to spend time with those diagnosed with severe depression and/or psychosis. This is likely to be within one of the following areas;
• Acute Psychiatry
• Community Care provision
• Drug/Alcohol Unit
You should submit the following as a sub-section of the PCO Portfolio;
• A completed ‘mental health familiarisation placement report’ (form code H02) evidencing learning outcome 7 of the PCO Mental Health component. (see Programme Handbook for details)
In addition to the above 100% attendance of the five day workshop is required in line with professional registration requirements.

Workshop 40 hours

Experiential and theoretical learning
Student-focused activities encouraging active participation
Independent study and reading hours are integrated with other course modules.

MILLON, T. & KRUEGER, R. F (2011) Contemporary Directions in Psychopathology: Scientific foundations of DSM-V and ICD-11. New York: The Guildford Press.
LEWIS, B. (2011) Narrative Psychiatry: How stories can shape clinical practice. USA: The Johns Hopkins University Press.
MENON, S. (2014) Brain, Self and Consciousness: Explaining the conspiracy of experience
(Studies in Neuroscience, Consciousness and Spirituality) New Delhi: Springer.
STANGHELLINI, G. (2004) Disembodied Spirits and Deanimated Bodies: The Psychopathology of Common Sense (International Perspectives in Philosophy and Psychiatry) Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Access to an approved observation placement providing suitable learning opportunities.

1. Demonstrate that you have met the competencies identified by the UKCP in regard to the PCO – Mental Health Component
(Knowledge & understanding, Learning)

In order that the Programme continues to meet the standards set by regulatory bodies, the above requirements will be regularly reviewed and may be subject to change.