Throughout this unit, you will gain an understanding of a range of current mental health legislation and how it has evolved over time. You will study the social consequences of mental health problems and explain how professional approaches and practices have changed. 

This unit explores the factors that influence mental health and well-being at specific stages of a person’s life, from infancy through to late adulthood, with consideration given to how the effects of adverse childhood experiences and economic, social and personal factors contribute to overall mental health and well-being. 

In this unit, you will go on to understand the effects that mental health problems have, not only for an individual, but the impact on their families and society. The effects of substance and alcohol misuse and the links between these and mental health diagnosis is explored, along with the connections between mental health problems and offending. 

A range of mental health conditions including anxiety, eating, mood, personality, sleeping and psychotic disorders as well as dementia, are covered in this unit. At the end of this unit, you will be able to explain the process of producing a person-centred mental health care plan and how the mental health worker can support recovery for those in care. 

This unit focuses on professional standards and codes of practice combined with the mental health worker using reflective practice and identifying their own personal development plan. The roles of other professionals who provide mental health services, including occupational therapists, nutritionists, pharmacists, social workers and those offering housing and employment advice, are also covered, with an emphasis on how partnership working can improve outcomes for people with mental health problems.