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Approaches to mental health

Over the past century there has been a radical shift in responses to people who experience mental health problems. In this module you will learn about how politics and concepts about mental health and professionalism have driven contemporary approaches to these issues. By directly relating theory to case studies and examples, you will reflect upon how the services that are offered shape the lives and experiences of individuals supported by a range of practitioners in statutory organisations, the third sector and beyond. ​You will also critique the role of psychiatry and other professional groups, and consider how diagnosis shapes mental health practice and the benefits and limitations of current responses.

Modules count towards OU qualifications

OU qualifications are modular in structure; the credits from this undergraduate module could count towards a certificate of higher education, diploma of higher education, foundation degree or honours degree.

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Module

Module code

K314

Credits

Credits

  • Credits measure the student workload required for the successful completion of a module or qualification.
  • One credit represents about 10 hours of study over the duration of the course.
  • You are awarded credits after you have successfully completed a module.
  • For example, if you study a 60-credit module and successfully pass it, you will be awarded 60 credits.
60

Study level

Across the UK, there are two parallel frameworks for higher education qualifications, the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications in England, Northern Ireland and Wales (FHEQ) and the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF). These define a hierarchy of levels and describe the achievement expected at each level. The information provided shows how OU module levels correspond to these frameworks.
Level of Study
OU SCQF FHEQ
3 10 6

Study method

Module cost

Entry requirements

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What you will study

This is a module that will allow you to explore and reflect upon a range of areas associated with mental health care and support. During the module you will explore the core principles of mental health practice and examine the nature of mental health treatment, both traditional and non-traditional, in the United Kingdom and internationally.

This module is made up of four blocks of study, each of which is made up of five weeks of teaching. During each block you'll focus on a particular area associated with mental health care:

  • Block 1 - topics include the core principles of mental health intervention; values and ethics in mainstream mental health practice; mental health diagnosis; and the political influences on care.
  • Block 2 - looks at traditional approaches to mental health, examining the contributions of different professional groups and the voluntary sector and you'll examine how we can assess the success of these ways of working.
  • Block 3 -  the focus is on mental health support in specific situations. You'll look at the needs of individuals transitioning between childhood or youth to adult services and those with complex care needs before examining the sensitive topics of suicide, self-harm, trauma and abuse.
  • Block 4 - explores a range of alternatives to traditional mental health care such as those driven by service users and those that take advantage of technological advances. Throughout the module the focus will be on the experience of care and support from a service user’s perspective.

In preparation for studying you will be provided with core learning materials, including texts, audio visual material that highlights particular issues, and journal articles that you will be able to access directly from the library.

The module team believe that students learn best when they are provided with opportunities to make links between theory and real life practice. As a result, across the module, the teaching material will encourage you to reflect upon case studies and practice examples that are relevant to the topic you are considering. You'll also undertake a range of specifically designed activities that will encourage you to communicate with your fellow students and the teaching staff about how structural, theoretical and behavioural influences shape mental health practice.

During the final week of each block of study you'll be provided with opportunities to shift the focus of your study towards those areas that you are most interested in learning more about. During this week you will be encouraged and supported to explore resources that are available through the library website, the Internet and those shared by fellow students.

At the end of this module you will have a range of the skills and tools that will help you become independent explorers of knowledge in this important but complex area.

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

Throughout this module you will be supported by a personal tutor. This support can take a variety of forms and include the use of several mediums. To ensure you are supported in a way that meets your needs, at the outset of the module you will be asked to consider whether you are best supported through one-to-one telephone contact, email or text communication. You will be strongly encouraged to engage in group support with your fellow students through forums and tutor hosted learning events. You will also be provided with written feedback on your TMA submissions.

Contact us if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.

Assessment

The assessment details for this module can be found in the facts box.

Future availability

Approaches to mental health (K314) starts once a year – in October.

This page describes the module that starts in October 2024.

We expect it to start for the last time in October 2025.

Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations which are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.

Course work includes:

4 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs)
End-of-module assessment


Entry requirements

This is an OU level 3 module. OU level 3 modules build on study skills and subject knowledge acquired from studies at OU levels 1 and 2. They are intended only for students who have recent experience of higher education in a related subject, preferably with the OU. You are not required to have done any study before in this subject area but if you have any doubt about the suitability of the module, please speak to an adviser.

Register

Start End Fee Register
05 Oct 2024 Jun 2025 Not yet available

Registration opens on 20/03/24

This module is expected to start for the last time in October 2025.

Additional Costs

Study costs

There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.

If your income is not more than £25,000 or you are in receipt of a qualifying benefit, you might be eligible for help with some of these costs after your module has started.

Ways to pay for this module

Open University Student Budget Account

The Open University Student Budget Accounts Ltd (OUSBA) offers a convenient 'pay as you go' option to pay your OU fees, which is a secure, quick and easy way to pay. Please note that The Open University works exclusively with OUSBA and is not able to offer you credit facilities from any other provider. All credit is subject to status and proof that you can afford the repayments.

You pay the OU through OUSBA in one of the following ways:

  • Register now, pay later – OUSBA pays your module fee direct to the OU. You then repay OUSBA interest-free and in full just before your module starts. 0% APR representative. This option could give you the extra time you may need to secure the funding to repay OUSBA.
  • Pay by instalments – OUSBA calculates your monthly fee and number of instalments based on the cost of the module you are studying. APR 5.1% representative.

Joint loan applications

If you feel you would be unable to obtain an OUSBA loan on your own due to credit history or affordability issues, OUSBA offers the option to apply for a joint loan application with a third party. For example, your husband, wife, partner, parent, sibling or friend. In such cases, OUSBA will be required to carry out additional affordability checks separately and/or collectively for both joint applicants who will be jointly and severally liable for loan repayments.

As additional affordability checks are required when processing joint loan applications, unfortunately, an instant decision cannot be given. On average the processing time for a joint loan application is five working days from receipt of the required documentation.

Read more about Open University Student Budget Accounts (OUSBA).

Employer sponsorship

Studying with The Open University can boost your employability. OU courses are recognised and respected by employers for their excellence and the commitment they take to complete. They also value the skills that students learn and can apply in the workplace.

More than one in ten OU students are sponsored by their employer, and over 30,000 employers have used the OU to develop staff so far. If the module you’ve chosen is geared towards your job or developing your career, you could approach your employer to see if they will sponsor you by paying some or all of the fees. 

  • Your employer just needs to complete a simple form to confirm how much they will be paying and we will invoice them.
  • You won’t need to get your employer to complete the form until after you’ve chosen your module.  

Credit/debit card

You can pay part or all of your tuition fees upfront with a debit or credit card when you register for each module. 

We accept American Express, Mastercard, Visa and Visa Electron. 

Mixed payments

We know that sometimes you may want to combine payment options. For example, you may wish to pay part of your tuition fee with a debit card and pay the remainder in instalments through an Open University Student Budget Account (OUSBA).


Please note: your permanent address/domicile will affect your fee status and therefore the fees you are charged and any financial support available to you. The fee information provided here is valid for modules starting before 31 July 2024. Fees normally increase annually. For further information about the University's fee policy, visit our Fee Rules

This information was provided on 19/03/2024.

Can you study an Access module for free?

In order to qualify, you must:

  1. be resident in England
  2. have a personal income of less than £25,000 (or receive qualifying benefits)
  3. have not completed one year or more on any full-time undergraduate programme at FHEQ level 4 or above, or completed 30 credits or more of OU study

How to apply to study an Access module for free

Once you've started the registration process, either online or over the phone, we'll contact you about your payment options. This will include instructions on how you can apply to study for free if you are eligible.

If you're unsure if you meet the criteria to study for free, you can check with one of our friendly advisers on +44 (0)300 303 0069 or you can request a call back.

Not eligible to study for free?

Don't worry! We offer a choice of flexible ways to help spread the cost of your Access module. The most popular options include:

  • monthly payments through OUSBA
  • part-time tuition fee loan (you'll need to be registered on a qualification for this option)

To explore all the options available to you, visit Fees and Funding.

What's included

You’ll have access to a module website, which includes:

  • a week-by-week study planner
  • course-specific module materials
  • audio and video content
  • assignment details and submission section
  • online tutorial access.

This module is entirely delivered through online through learning guides. These will comprise of text, graphics, quizzes (for self-assessment) and a range of media resources.

Computing requirements

You’ll need broadband internet access and a desktop or laptop computer with an up-to-date version of Windows (10 or 11) or macOS Ventura or higher.

Any additional software will be provided or is generally freely available.

To join in spoken conversations in tutorials, we recommend a wired headset (headphones/earphones with a built-in microphone).

Our module websites comply with web standards, and any modern browser is suitable for most activities.

Our OU Study mobile app will operate on all current, supported versions of Android and iOS. It’s not available on Kindle.

It’s also possible to access some module materials on a mobile phone, tablet device or Chromebook. However, as you may be asked to install additional software or use certain applications, you’ll also require a desktop or laptop, as described above.

If you have a disability

The OU strives to make all aspects of study accessible to everyone and this Accessibility Statement outlines what studying K314 involves. You should use this information to inform your study preparations and any discussions with us about how we can meet your needs.

To find out more about what kind of support and adjustments might be available, contact us or visit our disability support pages.