THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2020/2021

Information in the Degree Programme Tables may still be subject to change in response to Covid-19

University Homepage
DRPS Homepage
DRPS Search
DRPS Contact
DRPS : Course Catalogue : Moray House School of Education and Sport : Education

Postgraduate Course: Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Wellbeing (EDUA11426)

Course Outline
SchoolMoray House School of Education and Sport CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThe course provides an opportunity to develop knowledge and understanding of child and adolescent mental health and wellbeing. Drawing on psychological, developmental and clinical theories, this course will introduce students to child and adolescent mental health and wellbeing and the factors associated with the development and maintenance of clinical symptoms and wellbeing outcomes. The course will explore developmental processes, emotion and emotion regulation, physical health, cognition, and neurodiversity in relation to mental health and wellbeing. Furthermore, attachment, trauma and adverse experiences, social contexts, culture in relation to children and young people's mental health and wellbeing will be explored. The course draws on relevant theory, policies and evidence-based frameworks to allow critical engagement with inter-disciplinary and cross-cultural research to develop an awareness of the many factors affecting the wellbeing of children and young people.
Course description This course will begin by exploring the similarities and differences between 'mental health' and 'wellbeing' and what it means to be 'mentally healthy'. The course will introduce students to a range of psychological and clinical perspectives and theories on child and adolescent mental health, and their application to understanding risk and resilience, to mental health promotion and interventions to support mental health and wellbeing. This course does not assume prior knowledge of the theoretical/research literature around children and young people's mental health and wellbeing.

As the course develops, students will develop a critical awareness and understanding of many factors that impact the mental health and wellbeing of children and adolescents. There will be a particular focus on developmental processes, emotion and emotion regulation, physical health, cognition, and neurodiversity in relation to mental health and wellbeing. Attachment, trauma and adverse experiences, social contexts, culture in relation to children and young people's mental health and wellbeing will be explored.

The course will draw on relevant theory, policies and evidence-based frameworks to allow critical engagement with inter-disciplinary and cross-cultural research to develop an awareness of the many factors affecting the wellbeing of children and young people. Issues around mental health terminology and other methodological and ethical issues surrounding research in this field will also be considered. Students will be supported to think critically about the application of theories of mental health and wellbeing, with a particular focus on understanding the support and promotion of mental health and wellbeing of children and young people in context (e.g.in home, school and community contexts).
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Critically consider theoretical frameworks of relevance to research in the field of child and adolescent mental health and wellbeing.
  2. Articulate, as appropriate, an understanding of methodological approaches and ethical issues of mental health research with children and adolescents.
  3. Reflect thoughtfully on factors that impact children and adolescents' mental health and wellbeing.
  4. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the implications of mental health and wellbeing research for policy and/or practice.
  5. Demonstrate the ability to synthesise complex and competing information, and present that information coherently in relation to child and adolescent mental health and wellbeing.
Reading List
A list of specific chapters and journal articles ('essential reading') to be read for each class will be provided to students at the beginning of the course. The books and journals listed here are generally relevant for this course. There is no expectation that students read all of these.

General mental health and wellbeing:
Cromby, J. Harper, D., & Reavey, P. (2013). Psychology, Mental Health and Distress. New York, NY, US: Palgrave Macmillan.
Erskine, H. E., Baxter, A. J., Patton, G., , Moffitt, T. E., Patel, V., Whiteford,H. A., & Scott, J. G. (2017). The global coverage of prevalence data for mental disorders in children and adolescents. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 26(4): 395-402.
Mathews, F., Newlove-Delgado, T., & Finning, K., Boyle, C., Hayes, R., Johnston, P., & Ford, T. (2020). Teachers' concerns about pupil's mental health in a cross-sectional survey of a population sample of British school children. Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 1-7.
Fazel, M., Hoagwood, K., Stephan, S., & Ford T. (2014). Mental health interventions in schools in high-income countries. Lancet Psychiatry, 1: 377-387.
Fazel, M., Patel, V., & Tol, W. (2014). Mental health interventions in schools in low-income and middle-income countries. Lancet Psychiatry, 1: 388-398.
Sellars, E., Pavarini, G., Michelson, D., Creswell, C., Fazel, M. (2020). Young people's advisory groups in health research: scoping review and mapping of practices. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 0, 107.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills A. Research and Enquiry
Search for, evaluate and use information from a range of sources, to develop their knowledge and understanding
Recognise the need to challenge knowledge
Recognise the importance of reflecting on their learning experiences and level of understanding
Apply critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis to pertinent issues in research

B. Personal and Intellectual Autonomy
Be open to new ideas, methods and ways of thinking
Be creative and imaginative thinkers
Be independent learners who take responsibility for their own learning, and are committed to continuous reflection and self-development
Be able to use collaboration and debate effectively to test and develop their own views
Be intellectually curious and able to sustain intellectual interest

C. Communication
Further their own learning through effective use of a range of communication approaches, including effective questioning
Synthesis and clearly communicate key research findings to peers
Seek and value open feedback to inform genuine self-awareness

D. Personal Effectiveness
Be able to work effectively with others, capitalising on their different thinking, experience and skills
KeywordsMental Health,Wellbeing,Development,Children and Adolescents,Risk and Resilience
Contacts
Course organiserDr Tracy Stewart
Tel: (0131 6)51 6310
Email: Tracy.Stewart@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Claire Chalmers
Tel: (0131 6)51 6573
Email: Claire.Chalmers@ed.ac.uk
Navigation
Help & Information
Home
Introduction
Glossary
Search DPTs and Courses
Regulations
Regulations
Degree Programmes
Introduction
Browse DPTs
Courses
Introduction
Humanities and Social Science
Science and Engineering
Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Other Information
Combined Course Timetable
Prospectuses
Important Information