Global mental health is an emerging transdisciplinary scientific field. It utilizes approaches from multiple fields including psychology, anthropology, sociology, medicine, public health and epidemiology. Students in this course will explore 1. public health and global health approaches to the treatment and prevention of ill mental health, substance abuse and neurological disorders, 2. the role of culture in mental illness and its definitions, 3. epidemiological approaches to study and measure the prevalence and incidence of mental health globally, 4. public policy implications for ill mental health, and 5. mental health systems. Readings in the course will focus on peer-reviewed research literature. A particular emphasis will be placed on research and case examples from Asian country contexts (e.g., East and South East Asia), including Macao and Mainland China, so the course will have particular local and regional relevance to students.

CILO-1: Conceptualize the theory related to global mental health delivery. CILO-2: Utilize research methods in global mental health. CILO-3: Critically examine the global mental health research literature. CILO-4: Integrate the application of mental health in Asia from the perspective of global mental health. CILO-5: Become familiar with global public health and public health research.