All of the following units are manatory and equate to 10 hours each.

Unit 01: Understanding Mental Health

Credit Value: 4

Summary:

In this unit learners will understand what is meant by 

mental health and mental ill-health and its impact. They’ll 

also look at the legal frameworks that ensure high-quality 

care is provided.

Learning Outcomes:

• 1. Know what is meant by mental health and mental ill-health.
• 2. Understand the impact of mental health care becoming more community based.
• 3. Understand the social context of mental illness.
• 4. Understand the legal context of mental illness.

Unit 02: Understanding Stress 

Credit Value: 1

Summary:

In this unit learners will gain an understanding of stress 

and its causes. They will develop an appreciation of what 

stress feels like and the symptoms that may be 

experienced. Learners will also gain an understanding of 

ways in which stress can be managed.

Learning Outcomes:

• 1. Understand the term ‘stress‘. 
• 2. Understand possible causes of stress.
• 3. Understand what stress feels like and how it can affect an individual.
• 4. Understand that demands of daily life can contribute to feelings of stress.
• 5. Understand how stress may be managed and know some of the resources available to support the individual experiencing stress.

Unit 03: Understanding Anxiety 

Credit Value: 1

Summary:

In this unit learners will gain an understanding of anxiety 

and its causes. They will develop an appreciation of what 

anxiety feels like and the symptoms that may be 

experienced. Learners will gain an understanding of ways 

in which anxiety can be managed and treated and will also 

gain an understanding of the roles and needs of family and 

friends.

Learning Outcomes:

• 1. Understand the terms ‘anxiety‘ and ‘panic attack‘.
• 2. Understand possible causes of anxiety.
• 3. Understand what anxiety feels like and how it affects the individual, their friends and family.
• 4. Understand that different ways of thinking and behaving can affect anxiety.
• 5. Understand how anxiety may be managed and know some of the resources available to support the individual experiencing anxiety.

Unit 04: Understanding Pobias

Credit Value: 1

Summary:

In this unit learners will gain an understanding of phobias 

and their causes. They will develop an appreciation of 

what phobias feel like and the symptoms that may be 

experienced. Learners will gain an understanding of ways 

in which phobias can be managed and treated and will 

also gain an understanding of the roles and needs of 

family and friends.

Learning Outcomes:

• 1. Understand the term ‘phobias‘. 
• 2. Understand the possible causes of phobia.
• 3. Understand what a phobia feels like.
• 4. Understand how a phobia affects the individual, their life and their friends and family.
• 5. Understand how phobias may be managed and know some of the resources available to support the individual experiencing a phobia.

Unit 05: Understanding Depression

Credit Value: 1

Summary:

In this unit learners will gain an understanding of 

depression and its causes. They will develop an 

appreciation of what depression feels like and the 

symptoms that may be experienced. Learners will gain an 

understanding of ways in which depression can be 

managed and treated and will also gain an understanding 

of the roles and needs of family and friends.

Learning Outcomes:

• 1. Understand the term ‘depression‘.
• 2. Understand the possible causes of depression.
• 3. Understand what depression feels like.
• 4. Understand how a person with psychotic depression may be affected.
• 5. Understand how depression affects the individual, their life and their friends and family.
• 6. Understand that demands of daily life can maintain depression.
• 7. Understand how depression can be managed and know some of the resources available to support the individual experiencing depression.

Unit 06: Understanding Post Natal depression

Credit Value: 1

Summary:

In this unit learners will gain an understanding of postnatal depression and its causes. They will develop an 

appreciation of what post-natal depression feels like and 

the symptoms that may be experienced. Learners will gain 

an understanding of ways in which post-natal depression 

can be managed and treated and will also gain an 

understanding of the roles and needs of family and friends.

Learning Outcomes:

• 1. Understand the term ‘post-natal depression‘.
• 2. Understand the causes of post-natal depression.
• 3. Understand what post-natal depression feels like.
• 4. Understand puerperal psychosis. 
• 5. Understand how post-natal depression affects the mother, the friends and family and impacts on bonding with the baby.
• 6. Understand that preparation for the birth can help reduce the risk of postnatal depression.
• 7. Understand how post-natal depression may be managed and know some of the resources available to support the mother experiencing it.
• 8. Understand how puerperal psychosis may be managed.

Unit 07: Understanding Bipolar Disorder

Credit Value: 1

Summary:

In this unit learners will gain an understanding of bipolar 

disorder and its causes. They will develop an appreciation 

of what bipolar disorder feels like and the symptoms that 

may be experienced. Learners will also gain an 

understanding of ways in which bipolar disorder can be 

managed and treated and will also gain an understanding 

of the roles and needs of family and friends.

Learning Outcomes:

• 1. Understand the term ‘bipolar disorder‘.
• 2. Understand the causes of bipolar disorder.
• 3. Understand what bipolar disorder feels like.
• 4. Understand how bipolar disorder affects the individual, their life and their friends and family.
• 5. Understand that demands of daily life can influence the presentation of symptoms of bipolar disorder.
• 6. Understand how to recognise the symptoms of bipolar disorder to enable stability.
• 7. Understand how bipolar disorder may be managed and know some of the resources available to support the individual experiencing it.

Unit 08: Understanding Schizophrenia

Credit Value: 1

Summary:

In this unit learners will gain an understanding of 

schizophrenia and its causes. They will develop an 

appreciation of what schizophrenia feels like and the 

symptoms that may be experienced. Learners will gain an 

understanding of ways in which schizophrenia can be 

managed and treated and will also gain an understanding 

of the roles and needs of family and friends.

Learning Outcomes:

• 1. Understand the term ‘schizophrenia‘. 
• 2. Understand how media representation of schizophrenia can create confusion about the illness.
• 3. Understand the causes of schizophrenia.
• 4. Understand what schizophrenia feels like.
• 5. Understand how schizophrenia affects the individual, their life and their friends and family.
• 6. Understand how schizophrenia may be managed and know some of the resources available to support the individual experiencing it.

Unit 09: Understanding Dementia

Credit Value: 1

Summary:

In this unit learners will gain an understanding of dementia 

and its causes. They will develop an understanding of 

what dementia feels like and the symptoms that may be 

experienced. Learners will gain an understanding of ways 

in which dementia can be managed and treated and will 

also gain an appreciation of the roles and needs of family 

and friends.

Learning Outcomes:

• 1. Understand the term ‘dementia‘. 
• 2. Understand the causes of dementia. 
• 3. Understand what dementia feels like.
• 4. Understand how dementia affects the individual, their life and their friends and family.
• 5. Understand how dementia may be managed and know some of the resources available to support the individual experiencing it.
• 6. Understanding factors – including own actions – which may adversely affect a person with dementia.

Unit 10: Understanding Eating Disorders

Credit Value: 1

Summary:

In this unit learners will gain an understanding of eating 

disorders and their causes. They will develop an 

appreciation of what eating disorders feel like and the 

symptoms that may be experienced. Learners will gain an 

understanding of ways in which eating disorders can be 

managed and treated and will also gain an understanding 

of the roles and needs of family and friends.

Learning Outcomes:

• 1. Understand the term ‘eating disorders‘.
• 2. Understand the causes of one specific eating disorder.
• 3. Understand what one specific eating disorder feels like.
• 4. Understand how one specific eating disorder may affect the individual,their life and their friends and family.
• 5. Understand how a specific eating disorder may be managed and know some of the resources available to support the individual experiencing it.