Master of Arts in Social Work (Mental Health)

Description

Mental health issues are among the most significant contributors to the global burden of disease and disability. The global burden of disease attributable to mental health concerns surpasses that of tuberculosis, cancer, or heart disease. At any given time, mental and behavioral disorders affect over 25% of the global population, translating to approximately 450 million individuals experiencing mental, neurological, or behavioral challenges. In India alone, an estimated 20 to 30 million people are in need of mental health care.

The rapid pace of social change and urbanization has exacerbated the vulnerabilities of several groups whose mental health needs require urgent attention. These include the urban poor living in streets and slums, women and children exposed to domestic violence, populations displaced by large-scale development projects and natural or human-made disasters, single women, sexual minorities, and individuals facing disease-related stigma. Addressing the mental health concerns of such diverse groups necessitates an expansion of perspectives within the mental health sector. This calls for the development of training programs and service models that integrate biological, psychological, and interpersonal dimensions alongside socio-cultural, political, and economic contexts.

In India, there is a significant disparity between the mental health needs of the population and the availability of adequate services, including trained professionals. The Master of Arts in Social Work (Mental Health) programme aims to address this gap by cultivating professionals grounded in social work principles with a comprehensive understanding of mental health issues. The programme integrates principles of social justice and empowerment with advanced knowledge and skills in managing individual and interpersonal distress. It aims to bridge the gap between mental health needs and the availability of services by combining foundational social work education with specialized training in mental health. Ultimately, the programme seeks to enhance the well-being of vulnerable populations by developing skilled professionals in social work practice, grounded in a rights-based approach to mental health.

Programme Objectives

1. Equip students with a conceptual and theoretical understanding of mental health, illness, and well-being, and how structural factors such as inequality, discrimination, and socio-political instability contribute to mental health vulnerabilities.
2. Equip students with counselling and psychotherapeutic skills and cultural competencies to effectively address diverse mental health challenges at the individual, group and community level.
3. Equip students  with knowledge and skills to design and deliver sustainable, mental health programmes at various levels.
4. Equip students with skills for interdisciplinary collaboration and advocacy within mental health practice.
5. Train students to navigate the ethical and legal challenges in mental health practice, especially when working with marginalized and vulnerable populations

Programme Outcomes

• Students will demonstrate a sound theoretical foundation in mental health and well-being, gaining insights into how inequality, discrimination, and socio-political instability contribute to mental health vulnerabilities.
• Students will develop counselling, psychotherapeutic skills and cultural competencies, to effectively address mental health challenges at the individual, group, and community levels.
• Students will demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to design and implement mental health programs at various levels.
• Students will demonstrate the ability to collaborate effectively with professionals from various disciplines and advocate for policy and systemic changes to improve mental health services and outcomes.
• Students will be able to navigate ethical and legal challenges in mental health practice, particularly when working with marginalized and vulnerable populations.

Distribution of Credit Hours:

Semesterwise Courses:

Note:The curriculum structure is tentative and subject to change.

Fee Structure:

 *Institute reserves the rights to revise the Fees Structure of programme if necessary.

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