Mental Health is a major issue for people living in developed countries. It is difficult to estimate how many children and adolescents are affected by mental health conditions, but Australian statistics in 2007 estimated around 14% of children between 4 and 16 years old would be affected by a mental health condition at some point, and up to 45% for people over 16 years of age. It becomes important then, that people become educated about mental illness in children and adolescents, particularly because they may not be able to recognise that something isn't quite right.  This course is an excellent introduction into the nature and scope of mental health issues amongst children and adolescents. It highlights the signs and symptoms of some common mental health conditions, discusses their potential causes, and outlines possible treatment.

There are 10 lessons in this course:

1. Nature and Scope of Mental Health – looking at difference between adult and child and adolescent mental health. What we mean by mental health? Mental wellness etc.
2. Childhood Depression also how this changes when reach adolescence. signs and symptoms and treatments.
3. Anxiety Disorders - separation, generalised etc. school phobias, social phobias etc. signs/symptoms/treatment
4. Tic Disorders - Tourette's etc. signs/symptoms/treatment
5. Brain Disorders (Injury & Disease) signs/symptoms/treatment
6. Other Disorders - Motor Disorders, Elimination Disorders, Feeding & Eating Disorders; (there is less literature on these but they could be broken down into more than one lesson if necessary) signs/symptoms/treatment
7. Environmental Problems - Abuse and Neglect, Relationship Problems signs/symptoms/treatment
8. Problems of Adolescence - Anorexia, Bulimia, Substance Use, Family Conflict signs/symptoms/treatment
9. Holistic and Alternative Approaches to Treatment - this should be a general approach to dealing with children & adolescents i.e. not directed at specific conditions
10. Special Project - student chooses something of interest

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.