Mental Health: Cultural Psychology and Psychiatry (Taught)

This programme provides an advanced understanding of how socio-cultural factors shape mental health, mental illness, and mental health care. With a particular focus on the role of culture in diagnosis and treatment, you’ll explore how cultural contexts influence the experience and expression of distress, as well as the delivery of psychological and psychiatric interventions. Through examining innovative models of cross-cultural care, you’ll develop the skills to critically apply theory to practice, enhancing your ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

What you’ll gain

• Develop a critical insight into the role of culture in mental health as well as psychological and psychiatric practice, enhancing both your clinical and research skills.

• Gain a global perspective on the ethical and methodological challenges of mental health research and practice in various settings worldwide, in multicultural societies and with diverse populations enabling you to work with culturally diverse populations.

• Gain a comprehensive training in research methods and writing.

• Learn from leading experts in the field.

What you'll study

This programme is designed to deepen your understanding of how socio-cultural factors influence mental health, mental illness, and the organisation and delivery of mental health care. It will equip you to work in research or mental health care related roles within multicultural settings in the UK and internationally as well as provide a strong foundation for further training as a therapist, social worker, or clinical psychologist.

You will explore how cultural elements - such as belief systems, values, ethnicity, practices, and traditions - affect both mental health vulnerability and resilience. The programme also considers how wider phenomena such as migration, racism, and structural inequalities intersect to shape mental health experiences, and how these can be addressed in clinical practice and mental health systems. This includes consideration of the implementation of innovative therapeutic approaches and the adaptation of existing psychological models and care pathways to better meet diverse needs.

If you complete the MSc, you will also develop your research skills and complete an independent research project on a topic related to culture and mental health. For the Postgraduate Diploma, you will take taught modules only.

Please note that this programme does not lead to registration as a psychotherapist in the UK. Further advanced clinical training is required for professional registration.