This course will highlight and critically appraise the treatment gap for mental health difficulties in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The course will also evaluate approaches to making culturally appropriate, evidenced-based treatments available to large numbers of individuals in a cost-effective and sustainable way. There is a strong emphasis on the role of communities, service-users and non-governmental organisations in effecting mental health system transformation in LMICs. Finally, the course will introduce and appraise the role of social innovation and social entrepreneurship and enterprise in achieving equitable mental health care at scale.

This course is made up of lectures and seminars in semester 2.

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Assessment One:

■ 1600-word Essay (50%)

Students are required to write up a scaling-up strategy following a specific framework.

ILOs:

• Critically discuss strategies to scale up and sustain culturally appropriate mental health interventions within existing health systems. Such strategies may include task shifting, community-based rehabilitation and collaborative care.

• Critically evaluate barriers and enablers of increasing access to mental health interventions and innovations in diverse settings.

• Reflect critically on the role of service-users, practitioners and communities as co-creators and changemakers in mental health system transformation.

Assessment Two:

Part 1: Group Presentation (25%)

A pre-recorded presentation of an innovation pitch accompanied by PowerPoint slides.

Part 2: Individual Written Reflection (25%)

A 900-word individual written reflection discussing the development of the group innovation pitch and reflecting on the importance of social innovation for global mental health.

ILOs:

• Appraise the role of social innovation in increasing access to mental health care in the global context.

• Demonstrate entrepreneurial competencies by formulating and communicating a proposal or concept for an innovative intervention, service or initiative aimed at improving mental health access in a specific setting.

This course aims to provide online distance knowledge on a range of topics focusing on building capacity for the delivery of mental health services across the world. This course also aims to consider whether treatments developed in high- income countries translate to low- and middle-income countries and also aims to consider innovative ways of making mental health treatments widely available.

■ Critically discuss strategies to scale up and sustain culturally appropriate mental health interventions within existing health systems. Such strategies may include task shifting, community-based rehabilitation and collaborative care.

■ Critically evaluate barriers and enablers of increasing access to mental health interventions and innovations in diverse settings.

■ Reflect critically on the role of service-users, practitioners and communities as co-creators and changemakers in mental health system transformation.

■ Appraise the role of social innovation in increasing access to mental health care in the global context.

■ Demonstrate entrepreneurial competencies by formulating and communicating a proposal or concept for an innovative intervention, service or initiative aimed at improving mental health access in a specific setting.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.