Mental health conditions directly affect about a quarter of the population annually. Depression and anxiety are the most widespread conditions, and often co-occur. Understanding how these conditions develop, their onset, diagnosis, causes and treatments will lead to better interventions, management and support for affected individuals and their families. Designed as the first stage in the MSc in Mental Health Science (F78), this module will enable you to broaden your knowledge and understanding of key topics in mental health science.
Focusing on stress, anxiety and depression, the module draws on biological, psychological and social sciences to investigate these key topics through a collection of guided readings consisting of core materials (set books, review articles, research papers), wraparound text, and commentaries centred around diagnosis, causes and interventions. You will be guided in your online studies, week by week, via the study guide. The materials in each block follow a common structural plan, coherent framework and assessment.
Block 1 will introduce you to fundamental postgraduate study skills and an overview of research methods, with content focusing on affective disorders and using core resources provided within the module. You will also be guided in understanding critical appraisal techniques to evaluate clinical and scientific research papers. You will be able to apply these skills (which include sourcing and evaluating materials, scientific writing and communication) by starting to work towards an online poster as part of the formal assessment process and for information exchange with your fellow students. You will further develop your study and research skills in Blocks 2 and 3, applying these to examine key topics in greater depth.
Block 2 will focus on Stress and Anxiety, and Block 3 on Depression, with an emphasis on core readings and associated commentaries that address diagnosis, causes, and interventions. You will undertake independent study of these areas and gain a further understanding of contemporary issues in mental health science by searching for, reading, and evaluating materials (including review articles, primary and secondary research papers) beyond those provided in the module.
The module website will serve as the key hub for all your study resources, including sections on the latest developments, links to relevant materials, forums, and target journals available through the OU Library. These resources represent research at the forefront of each discipline, allowing you to engage with the very latest findings. Tutor group and module-wide forums and wikis will enable you to discuss aspects of the key topics in mental health science, along with the latest developments in the field, with your fellow students. A selection of ‘live’ tutorial sessions, along with recorded presentations, will supplement and support the learning outcomes for the module, providing you with an enhanced online learning experience.
The module is good preparation for further research or study in mental health science. It will develop skills and knowledge relevant to employment within the health sector, life sciences, medical and related fields, and will inform and strengthen professional practice. It may be particularly interesting to psychology graduates considering future counselling or clinical psychology doctoral-level qualifications, or those looking at career opportunities in general mental health and wellbeing (e.g. MHWPs).
You’ll get help and support from an assigned tutor throughout your module.
They’ll help by:
Online tutorials run throughout the module. While they’re not compulsory, we strongly encourage you to participate. Where possible, we’ll make recordings available.
Course work includes:
You will participate in group activities using various communication methods, including scheduled online forums, wikis, and online tools for peer feedback. Some group work is linked to the assessment for this course and must be completed between specific dates.
All study materials, except for two set books, are available online through the module website. These include a week-by-week planner and study guide, a guide to the module, core and supplementary reading materials, commentaries, a range of audiovisual resources, live online tutorial sessions, online tutor support, online forums and access to scientific journals, ebooks and databases through The Open University Library.
Set books:
You can study this module on its own or use the credits you gain towards an Open University qualification.
S826 is a compulsory module in our:
S826 is an option module in our:
Introduction to mental health science (S826) starts once a year – in January.
It will next start in January 2027.
We expect it to start for the last time in January 2028.
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.
You may register for this module before providing evidence that you meet the entry requirements; however, your place is not guaranteed until you provide this.
You must have either:
If you have questions about your suitability, contact the MSc Admissions Panel.
In addition to the set books, we recommend the following free OpenLearn units: Introduction to mental health science. These are not obligatory but would support your studies on this module and the mental health science programme.
Some online components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader. Where possible, alternative module materials formats will be available on the module website.
Due to our use of external websites and third-party content, we cannot guarantee the accessibility of all module components.
This module has no printed study materials other than the set books. It is delivered entirely online (i.e. content is displayed on a computer screen or mobile devices, although there is the option to download some of the content as Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) files for printing). Consequently, time spent using a computer and the internet will be extensive. Parts of the module can be successfully studied using mobile devices, such as tablets.
The module extensively uses electronic library resources, real-time (synchronous), asynchronous online discussions, and an interactive whiteboard space. If you use assistive technology or have a hearing or speech impairment and have concerns about accessing this type of virtual environment and materials, you can visit the system provider's website for information and contact The Open University to discuss further, before registering. Written transcripts of audiovisual components will be made available where they exist (some external resources, such as videos on YouTube, may not have transcripts). Adobe PDF versions of most journal articles are available through the OU library and HTML full text. Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader, and scientific notation may be particularly difficult to read in this way. You will be required to access literature resources electronically. If you use a screen reader to access material on screen, you should check that it is compatible with The Open University Library’s electronic databases and resources before you start the module.
To find out more about what kind of support and adjustments might be available, contact us or visit our disability support pages.
| Start | End | Register by | England fee |
|---|
| 30 Jan 2027 | 31 Oct 2027 | 14 Jan 2027 | Not yet available* |
| *This start date is open for pre-booking, which means you can reserve your place ahead of the fees being confirmed. We’ll publish updated 2026/27 fees and funding information on the 25th of March. |
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 receive a qualifying benefit, you might be eligible for help with some of these costs after your module has started.
There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.
If you study this module as part of an eligible qualification, you can apply for a postgraduate loan to support your study costs. To find out more, see Postgraduate loans in England.
If you study this module as part of an eligible qualification, you can apply for a postgraduate loan to help with your tuition fees. To find out more, see Postgraduate tuition fee loans in Northern Ireland.
If you study this module as part of an eligible qualification, you can apply for a postgraduate loan to help with your tuition fees. To find out more, see Postgraduate loans in Scotland.
If you study this module as part of an eligible qualification, you can apply for a postgraduate loan to support your study costs. To find out more, see Postgraduate loans in Wales.
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Read more about Open University Student Budget Accounts (OUSBA).
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