Mental Health: building a resilient workforce
The coronavirus pandemic has been life-altering for everyone, especially for our health and community services workforce.
If you’re working in health care or plan to start a career in health care, it can be stressful with the constant worry of contracting the virus, bringing it home to loved ones, whilst continuing to deliver quality care to patients. It takes real mental strength and courage to deal with uncertainty every single day.
For those working as first responders or providing care for vulnerable people, upskilling in mental health conditions, risk factors, recovery and support services can really improve your own resilience, job satisfaction and ability to support your clients and co-workers.
Faced with these new challenges, we’ve chosen to adapt and shift our focus on providing mental health courses that will help build a resilient workforce for the future.
Monash currently delivers 118 units across 22 courses focusing on areas in mental health, psychology, psychiatry and neuroscience.
Deputy Dean of Education at Monash Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Professor Wayne Hodgson said that prioritising the mental health of our students and the future health workforce is an urgent priority for the Faculty.
“With over 500 neuroscience researchers across the University, we’re dedicated to bringing together our neuroscience and mental health expertise, who are also integrated in Victoria’s leading health services, to deliver evidence-based teaching and quality clinical practice.”
Explore selected mental health courses
Undergraduate Certificate of Mental Health
Offered at the start of 2021 in response to increased demand in mental health services, this undergraduate course develops your knowledge and skills in responding to mental health needs - from understanding mental illnesses, to different perspectives in mental health services through to strategies for treatment and recovery.
This course has already generated lots of interest amongst Victoria Police, child protection workforce and those employed in the aged care sector.
Master of Mental Health Science
The Master of Mental Health Science allows graduate students who are working in the health and welfare areas to further their education through a combination of coursework and research.
Students can choose to specialise in community mental health, child psychotherapy, psychiatrist in training or mental health nursing.
Mindfulness for Wellbeing and Peak Performance
Research shows that when you’re not deliberately paying attention to something, your brain goes into default mode causing increased anxiety and poor communication. Mindfulness can help end this unproductive behaviour.
In this online professional development course, you’ll learn how to incorporate mindfulness practices into your life, to reduce stress and improve your personal and professional life.
Single-unit offerings
Monash’s Department of Psychiatry offers single unit enrolments to health professionals who are interested in upskilling in their current role or simply refreshing their knowledge.
Senior Lecturer, Dr Phyllis Chua said that these units provide students with the flexibility of enrolling in a single-unit without committing to an entire degree.
“Our students are given the flexibility to learn online, allowing them to juggle work and family commitments. They are also offered attendance during a weekend workshop once during the semester.”
Contemporary Research and Practice in Family Violence (Single-unit)
This unit provides you with theory, policy, and practice in family violence. It includes the types of violence and its (health and mental health) impact on children, adolescents, and adults.
You’ll also have the opportunity to hear from people with lived experiences from all walks of life through a range of modes.
To further explore our course offerings, visit Monash mental health courses.