Level 2 Certificate in Awareness of Mental Health Problems

There are no specific entry requirements, however, learners should have a minimum of a Level 1 in English and Maths, or the equivalent.

The qualification is suitable for learners aged 19 or above.

You will be added to our Equal platform, where you will be able to access learning resources and assessments to complete. You'll also be allocated your own personal tutor who you can contact throughout your studies.

You will be required to work through a series of tasks and activities designed to reinforce the learning process and demonstrate your knowledge. Your personal tutor will then assess your work and provide you with constructive feedback for each unit.

It is essential that all learners are assessed in English, unless the qualification specification specifically states that another language may be accepted. This also applies to all learner evidence presented for external quality assurance purposes.

The qualification is assessed by internally set and marked assessments, which are subject to external quality assurance.
All learning outcomes that assess knowledge and understanding (usually beginning with ‘understand’ or ‘know how to’) may be assessed through internally set and marked written assignments, tasks, records of oral or written questions, workbooks, or other portfolio evidence.

Materials for internal assessment must be submitted for approval before use and must be mapped to the relevant unit, learning outcome and assessment criteria.

All learning outcomes and assessment criteria must be met to achieve a pass - there is no grading.

Each unit within the qualification may have its own assessment requirements, guidance and range:

- Assessment requirements are conditions of assessment that must be met by learners when undertaking their assessments to achieve the unit or meet a particular assessment criterion
- Assessment guidance includes areas that could be covered by learners in their assessments to achieve the unit or a particular assessment criteria, but are not mandatory
- Useful websites are resources that could be used by centres for the delivery of the qualification and by learners to support them with the completion of the unit

You should be able to work at a Level 1 or above in Functional Skills.

One in four British adults experience at least one diagnosable mental health problem each year. The most common is mixed anxiety and depression, but there are many other issues which have a huge impact on a person’s life and the people around them.

Anyone who works around people with mental health problems needs to understand each condition fully. Likewise, anyone who has seen someone experience mental health problems would benefit from understanding the meaning, causes, effects, symptoms and management of the condition. This nationally recognised qualification covers all of these aspects and is the perfect place to start

This is a 12-week course that requires your own time management for study. You will be given submission dates to keep you focused on the 12-week timeframe.

- Guided learning hours total approximately 160 hours
- Directed study requirements total approximately 10-15 hours

The qualification is suitable for anyone who wishes to increase their knowledge of mental health problems, the factors that cause mental ill-health and the ways that mental health problems can be managed. The course is also suitable for those who already work in this area, anyone who wants to secure a job linked to mental health and anyone who wants to gain more knowledge for personal reasons.

This course is split into thirteen units:

- Understanding Mental Health
- Understanding Stress
- Understanding Anxiety
- Understanding Phobias
- Understanding Depression
- Understanding Post-Natal Depression
- Understanding Bipolar Disorder
- Understanding Schizophrenia
- Understanding Dementia
- Understanding Eating Disorders
- Understanding Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
- Understanding Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Understanding Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

The benefits for completing this course are:

- Gain a nationally recognised qualification
- Improve your adult social care skills to help you create a long-standing career pathway in your chosen industry
- Courses are delivered as distance learning, allowing you to choose when and where to study
- Personal tutors are assigned to ensure you have the support needed to succeed