9 Reasons to Study a Mental Health MSc

Mental health is one of the most pressing issues of our time. It’s estimated that one in four of us will experience a mental health problem in our lifetime, whilst one in six of us report a common mental health problem such as anxiety or depression each week in England alone.

That’s why it’s crucial to have trained and knowledgeable experts with the tools to prevent mental ill health and promote recovery in every part of our society.

A Mental Health MSc could be your next step towards a career that tackles these challenges and shapes the future – if you’ve got what it takes, read these nine fantastic reasons to study with us.

Awareness of mental health is growing, thanks to campaigns like Time To Talk and the work of charities such as Mind.

But unfortunately, so are mental health problems. After a catastrophic year, the ONS reported that the number of adults experiencing symptoms of depression in the UK has doubled, whilst the number of people able to access both adult and child mental health services had decreased.

And in spite of an increased awareness, there is still a desperate need for a greater understanding of the work needed to balance mental health and wellbeing and reach out to those who need it.

A Mental Health MSc will teach you essentials skills on how to support those in crisis and become part of much-needed solutions.

With rising awareness comes an increased demand for qualified professionals equipped to assist with mental health care on both individual and structural levels.

And with a Mental Health MSc, you could unlock a wide range of career opportunities that will enable you to do just that.

Our course will open up career opportunities across a wide range of settings including roles within local government to improve access to vital services, positions in public and private healthcare, social care and certain advisory roles. And with a central course focus on research, this qualification can also lead to a number of research roles too.

Our Specialist Mental Health Care module gives you the opportunity to explore dedicated systems designed to treat specific mental health conditions and provide individualised care for those who need it most.

This module also focuses on particularly vulnerable risk groups, including the elderly, children and young people, and those with learning difficulties.

By understanding the specific support systems required to aid these patients, you’ll be equipped with essential skills to devise and innovate solutions that provide specialised treatments and ensure these groups receive the best possible care.

Our course gives you the chance to study the biggest contemporary issues in mental healthcare today.

You’ll learn about global perspectives on mental health and explore a wide range of societal issues that affect perceptions and treatment, including media portrayals in film and literature as well as social media’s influence of mental health.

These perspectives are vital to understanding mental health in social contexts as well as the origins and perpetuations of stigmas which act as barriers to treatment.

Research is at the heart of mental health breakthroughs.

Our Research Methodology module will give you valuable insight into the research process and allow you to develop your analytical abilities, an essential skill that is useful in any career avenue, but particularly in health and social care sectors where research is at the heart of decision-making and problem-solving.

As well as boasting full flexibility, this course will also teach you a range of transferrable skills, including organisation, time management, experience in handling deadlines and the ability to work independently and take initiative.

Many of our students also fit their courses around their working life, giving you a valuable opportunity to earn while you learn and continue your professional development whilst gaining a new qualification.

Mental health awareness is extending to the workplace , where companies are now more concerned about staff burnout than ever before.

This year has seen an increase in businesses offering access to counselling and EAPs (employee assistance programmes), but as the focus of employers and HR departments across industries turns to the protection of mental wellbeing, professionals with experience in the field will be invaluable in enacting preventative change.

With a Mental Health MSc, you could play a vital role in shaping workplaces of the future, maximising productivity while minimising stress and protecting employee welfare.

By studying mental health, you’ll learn a huge amount about the treatment of mental health and the structures put in place to manage crises and provide support.

But you’ll also gain an individual perspective on mental health and wellbeing. Our course is not just an opportunity for academic learning, but a chance to develop your empathy and understand what it means to provide mental health support to those that need it.

Those working on the frontline of mental health have the power to change the future.

And with a Mental Health MSc, you have a unique opportunity to build a career that changes lives and makes a real impact in research, organisations, healthcare and many other sectors.

Want to be part of the solution? These are just nine reasons why our Mental Health MSc is the right course for you.

Find out more about this course and distance learning on our blog:

• Why Mental Health Is Crucial for Work, Rest and Play
• Can Distance Learning Build Your Resilience?
• Is Distance Learning Right for Me?