Postgraduate Module Descriptor


ERPM008Z: Children and Young People's Mental Health

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary over time, it is envisaged that the syllabus will consider a range of issues that relate to the contemporary study of children and young people’s mental health. The syllabus will consider theory, research and methodology in this area of psychological study. Indicative examples of what may be covered include: 

  • Theoretical perspectives that can help to understand children and young people’s mental health 
  • School mental health 
  • How family influences children and young people’s mental health 
  • Internalising difficulties
  • Externalising difficulties
  • Risk and resilience factors 
  • Physical and mental health 
  • Social mobility and mental health 
  • How wellbeing relates to mental health 
  • Early intervention 
  • Social and emotional learning

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
271230

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching27Engagement online with taught content
Guided Independent Learning27Set and supplementary reading
Guided Independent Learning9Collation and review of online taught content notes
Guided Independent Learning27Undertaking additional tasks and activities (e.g. on ELE) and preparing for online taught content
Guided Independent Learning60Work on assessments

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).

Indicative Reading List

This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.

Indicative basic reading list:

  • Aldridge, J. M., & McChesney, K. (2018). The relationships between school climate and adolescent mental health and wellbeing: A systematic literature review. International Journal of Educational Research88, 121-145
  • Burton, M, Pavord, E. and Williams, B. (2014) An Introduction to Child and Adolescent Mental Health. Sage.
  • Carr, A. (2000). What works with children and adolescents? A critical review of psychological interventions with children, adolescents and their families. Routledge.
  • Dogra, N., Parkin, A., Warner-Gale, F., & Frake, C. (2017). A multidisciplinary handbook of child and adolescent mental health for front-line professionals. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
  • Deighton, J., Lereya, S. T., Casey, P., Patalay, P., Humphrey, N. & Wolpert, M., (2019) ‘Prevalence of mental health problems in schools: Poverty and other risk factors among 28 000 adolescents in England’, British Journal of Psychiatry. 215, 3, p. 565-567
  • Garvis, S., & Pendergast, D. (Eds.). (2017). Health and wellbeing in childhood. Cambridge University Press.
  • Owens, R. L., & Waters, L. (2020). What does positive psychology tell us about early intervention and prevention with children and adolescents? A review of positive psychological interventions with young people. The Journal of Positive Psychology15(5), 588-597.
  • Thompson, M. E., Hooper, C. E., Laver-Bradbury, C. E., & Gale, C. E. (2012). Child and adolescent mental health: Theory and practice. Hodder Arnold.
  • Wei, Y., Kutcher, S., Blackwood, A., Glover, D., Weaver, C., MacKay, A., & Weist, M. D. (2015). School mental health: global challenges and opportunities.