Supporting adult learners’ positive mental health

The Open University via OpenLearn

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This free course provides educators with an introduction to adult learners’ mental health. The course is designed to develop understanding of the impact mental health has on learning, as well as to explore the variety of strategies that can be employed to support adult learners experiencing a range of mental health related challenges.This course will be of interest to educators in adult learning settings who do not have specific expertise in this area, but who may encounter learners whose mental health is a barrier to their learning and would like to know how to respond and where to turn.Listen to course authors Sarah Mander and Neill Boddington talking about the course content, which focuses on the mental health and wellbeing of adults in learning environments.TranscriptThe course is endorsed by the Charlie Waller Trust.Enrolling on the course will give you the opportunity to earn an Open University digital badge. Badges are not accredited by The Open University but they’re a great way to demonstrate your interest in the subject and commitment to your career, and to provide evidence of continuing professional development.The Open University would really appreciate a few minutes of your time to tell us about yourself and your expectations for the course before you begin, in our start-of-course survey. Once you complete the course we would also value your feedback and suggestions for future improvement, in our end-of-course survey. Participation will be completely confidential and we will not pass on your details to others.

Syllabus

Introduction and guidance
Positive mental health
What is a badged course?
How to get a badge
Acknowledgements
Week1Week 1: Common mental health challenges and signals displayed by adult learners
Introduction
1 The difference between mental health, mental conditions and wellbeing
1.1 ‘Mental health’ and ‘wellbeing’
1.2 Mental illness and mental health conditions
2 Common mental health problems and their possible impact on learning
2.1 What influences our mental health?
Dahlgren and Whitehead’s model for the social determinants of health
2.2 Common mental health problems
Depression and low mood
Anxiety (and stress)
The relationship between mental health and self-esteem
3 Language, behaviour and emotions displayed by learners who are struggling with their mental health
3.1 What can you look out for?
3.2 Study-related behaviours
Attendance or punctuality issues
Presenteeism
Withdrawal
4 Introducing strategies to support learners’ mental health
4.1 Ask twice
4.2 Validating feelings and experiences
4.3 Creating ‘safe’ places
4.4 Knowing where to signpost
4.5 Your wellbeing is important too!
5 Wellbeing activity for this week
6 This week’s quiz
7 Summary of Week 1
References
Week2Week 2: The relationship between mental health and adult learning
1 How positive mental health supports learning
2 The difference between positive and negative mental health
3 The mutual relationship between mental health and learning
4 How to look after learners’ wellbeing
4.1 Institutional support
4.2 Early warning signs
4.3 How involved should you be?
4.4 Maintaining effective relationships
5 How to support learners with mental health challenges to become independent learners
5.1 Setting boundaries
5.2 Encouraging independent learning
5.3 Encourage SMART goals
5.4 Identify and support learning preferences
6 Reflective practice
6.1 Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle
7 Wellbeing activity for this week
8 This week’s quiz
9 Summary of Week 2
Week3Week 3: Communication and conversations about mental health
1 Learning from history
2 How to start a conversation about mental health
3 Effective active listening skills through understanding non-verbal and verbal cues
3.1 Non-verbal cues
3.2 Verbal cues
4 Developing active listening skills
5 Communicating and demonstrating empathy
6 Holding non-judgemental conversations
9 Summary of Week 3
Further reading
Week4Week 4: Accessing and providing the right support at the right time for your learners
1 Early indicators of mental health challenges and difficulties in adult learners
1.1 What are early indicators?
1.2 Avoiding labels
1.3 Interpreting non-engagement
2 Identifying appropriate professional support and information available to adult learners
2.1 What do we mean by ‘professional support’?
2.2 What type of support might be available?
Talking therapies, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Social prescribing
Online tools
3 What can prevent learners from accessing support?
4 Increasing awareness of mental health crises in adult learners and knowing how to respond appropriately
4.1 Panic attacks
4.2 Self-harm
4.3 Identifying an emergency situation with suicidal risk
4.4 Identifying and talking about suicidal thoughts and behaviours
4.5 Responding to a learner with suicidal thoughts
4.6 What else can help?
5 Further help and support
6 Wellbeing activity for this week
7 This week’s quiz
8 Summary of Week 4
Week5Week 5: Overcoming stigma associated with mental health
1 Being aware of stigmatising language and behaviours
1.1 Stigmatising language and behaviour
1.2 Racist stigma
2 Challenge stigmatised beliefs within the learning community
2.1 How to challenge stigma in practice
3 Avoiding stigma in learning materials and terminology
4 Stigma-free curriculum design
7 Summary of Week 5
Week6Week 6: Social and cultural dimensions of mental health in learning environments
1 Belonging, difference and mental health
1.1 Ethnicity and race
1.2 Religious stereotyping
1.3 Specific challenges to belonging: international learners
2 Varied cultural perspectives of mental health
2.1 Cultural competence
2.2 Cultural competence and mental health difficulties
2.3 Socio-economic effects on learner mental health
3 Supporting socially and culturally diverse learners’ wellbeing
3.1 Promoting help-seeking behaviour
3.2 Addressing unconscious bias and microaggressions
3.3 Using microinterventions to stop microaggressions
3.4 Decolonising the curriculum
4 Wellbeing activity for Week 6
5 This week’s quiz
6 Summary of Week 6
Week7Week 7: Promoting wellbeing and building resilience
1 Barriers and enablers to learner wellbeing as well as the consequences of resilience and stress
1.1 Understanding barriers and enablers to wellbeing
2 Taxonomy of wellbeing: understanding barriers and enablers to wellbeing
2.1 Recognise the wellbeing value of assessment choice and feedback
2.2 Effective feedback
3 Summarise strategies to ensure group work supports learner wellbeing
4 The negative impact of emotive and triggering content on learners’ wellbeing and resilience
5 Developing further meaning and resilient skills for learners
5.1 Going further: wellbeing models, external resources and their possible application in the learning environment
6 Wellbeing activity for Week 7
8 Summary of Week 7
Week8Week 8: Educators’ self-care strategies
1 Recognising your own support needs
1.1 Capacity to cope
1.2 Evaluating stressors
1.3 Boosting your mental wellbeing
2 Establishing and maintaining professional boundaries: what is meant by ‘boundaries’?
2.1 The characteristics of boundaries
3 Self-compassion and mindfulness
3.1 Exploring the concept of self-compassion
3.2 Mindfulness
3.3 Burnout
4 Self-care approaches
4.1 Diet and nutrition
4.2 Hydration
4.3 Exercise
4.4 Sleep
4.5 Mental stimulation and socialisation
4.6 Finding time for you
6 Summary of Week 8
7 End-of-course summary
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