Course Description

[This is a certified Communication-intensive (CI) Course which meets all of the requirements endorsed by HKU’s Senate, including (i) the teaching assessment of written and visual communication ‘literacies’; and (ii) at least 40% of the course grade is assigned to communication-rich assessment tasks.]

Portrayed by mass media, there is an exaggerated link between mental illness and violence. Mental illness is often considered as an adversary that should be dealt with by medical professionals. Challenging this monopolized medical discourse on mental illness, this course aims to expand the students’ view to appreciate how mental illness has been psychologically influenced, socially constructed and policed, as well as culturally shaped. Coupling biochemistry’s knowledge of mental illness with self-reflections, students are expected to develop a critical and comprehensive understanding of mental illness and mental health. With the use of experiential exercises, case studies, and film viewing, students will be further encouraged to scrutinize mental health issues in their daily lives. As there is a growing number of individuals challenged by mental illnesses both locally and internationally, students will have high chance of encountering an individual with mental illnesses in their social circles, workplaces or even family in the future. The development of a comprehensive and critical view towards mental illnesses will definitely prepare them to face this future challenge.

[All students will be required to plan and organize a compulsory experiential learning activity for service users at a mental health agency/setting during Reading Week. The experiential activity is compulsory and if interested students foresee that they cannot commit to this, they should not be enrolling in this course. Depending on the pandemic the activity may be shifted online.]

Course Learning Outcomes

On completing the course, students will be able to:

1. Describe conceptions of mental health and mental illness.
2. Critically appraise the contributions and limitations of the various conceptions of mental health and mental illness.
3. Understand how certain mental health issues have been conceived and defined through a dynamic interplay of various biomedical, psychological, sociological and cultural perspectives.
4. Develop cultural sensitivity towards intercultural differences in understanding and responding to issues in mental health and mental illness.

Offer Semester and Day of Teaching

First semester (Wed)