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330.662.01
Public Mental Health

Location
East Baltimore
Term
1st Term
Department
Mental Health
Credit(s)
2
Academic Year
2024 - 2025
Instruction Method
In-person
Class Time(s)
Friday, 1:30 - 3:20pm
Auditors Allowed
No
Available to Undergraduate
Yes
Grading Restriction
Pass/Fail
Course Instructor(s)
Contact Name
Frequency Schedule
Every Year
Prerequisite

None

Description
Mental and behavioral health affect all aspects of health and wellness. 1 in 4 adults in the US suffer from a behavioral disorder in a given year, and brain and behavior disorders represent 4 of the top 10 causes of disability in the developed world. In developing countries, only respiratory infections and AIDS rank higher than depression as sources of disability. Further, problems of physical health can be exacerbated by poor mental health. Anyone interested in public health will benefit from increased training and attention to mental and behavioral health as critical aspects of public health.
Provides an overview and framework for the full spectrum of public mental health. Presents key concepts in public health applied to mental and behavioral health and disorders. Discusses the causes and consequences of mental health disorders, the frameworks for understanding the origins of these disorders, strategies for treatment and prevention, and issues related to health services and policy for mental and behavioral health.
Learning Objectives
Upon successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
  1. Develop their own definition of public mental health
  2. Articulate key questions addressed in the study of public mental health
  3. Map the central perspectives of public mental health across departmental curriculum
  4. Create a plan for integrating key concepts into their public health training
  5. Explain behavioral and psychological factors that affect population’s health
Methods of Assessment
This course is evaluated as follows:
  • 40% Participation
  • 30% Written Assignment(s)
  • 30% Project(s)