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#talkmentalillness
  • Level Foundation
  • Duration 14 hours
  • Course by University of Colorado Boulder
  • Offered by

About

I am a professor and mental health researcher and educator, and I’ve been working in the field for over 15 years. Like so many of my colleagues, however, I was unprepared for the wave of mental health challenges that would face our society in 2020. From COVID-19 and the devastating economic impacts of the pandemic to racial justice protests, widespread natural disasters, our current cultural moment presents unprecedented mental health concerns, and particularly for marginalized communities. For this reason, I led a field-wide call to action for mental health research and treatment that resulted in this #TalkMentalIllness course. I had the opportunity to speak to over 30 experts from different domains in psychology research, practice, and popular public figures and to discuss the causes and cutting-edge treatments for many serious disorders, the stigma surrounding mental illness in our culture, systemic inequality in mental health treatment, and the mental health challenges of today. #talkmentalillness curates the interviews from the Mental Health Experts series into an accessible learning experience that will help you have conversations about mental health. Talking about mental illness is both the content and desired outcome of this course, as you will use what you learn from my interviews with mental health experts to guide your own discussions about mental health challenges and treatments with family members, friends, colleagues, and other people in your life. The course will begin by presenting a core set of definitions for mental illness and analyzing the stigma associated with it. We will then apply these topics to specific psychological disorders, including anxiety and mood disorders, eating disorders, suicide, substance use, and psychosis. We will then consider how these issues disproportionately impact marginalized groups and communities of color. The course will conclude by considering innovative approaches to psychological treatments and how the pursuit and science of happiness inform mental health and wellness. This course is part of a broader educational mission to share the science of mental illness with both students and the public, both locally and globally. I have designed and created it in collaboration with the Office for Academic Innovation and Libraries’ Media Services Team at the University of Colorado Boulder. - June Gruber

Modules

Course Introduction

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
Show info about module content

1 Videos

  • Introduction to #talkmentalillness

1 Readings

  • A Note on Discussion Prompts

Pre-Learning Discussion

    • 1 Discussion
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • Week 1: Perceptions of Mental Illness

Required Viewing

    • 4 Videos
    • 1 Readings
Show info about module content

4 Videos

  • Stephen Hinhsaw on stigma and mental illness
  • Temple Grandin on autism
  • Kay Refield Jamison on bipolar disorder
  • Gordon Nagayma Hall on culture and mental health

1 Readings

  • Week 1: Recommended Readings (required videos)

Optional Viewing

    • 2 Videos
    • 1 Readings
Show info about module content

2 Videos

  • Mitchell Prinstein on communicating mental health to the public
  • Aaron Fisher on precision behavioral health

1 Readings

  • Week 1: Recommended Readings (optional videos)

Assessment

    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Week 1 Quiz

Pre-Learning Discussion

    • 1 Discussion
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • Week 2: Specific Psychological Disorders

Required Viewing

    • 4 Videos
    • 1 Readings
Show info about module content

4 Videos

  • Greg Siegle on the brain and depression
  • Linda Craighead on eating disorders
  • Bunmi Olatunji on anxiety disorders
  • Sheri Johnson on impulsivity

1 Readings

  • Week 2: Recommended Readings (required videos)

Optional Viewing

    • 5 Videos
    • 1 Readings
Show info about module content

5 Videos

  • Lee Anna Clark on personality disorders
  • Jutta Joormann on depression and cognition
  • Wendy Heller on anxiety disorders
  • Jonathan Rottenberg on depression and emotion
  • Judy Garber on internalizing disorders

1 Readings

  • Week 2: Recommended Readings (optional videos)

Assessment

    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Week 2 Quiz

Pre-Learning Discussion

    • 1 Discussion
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • Week 3: Serious Mental Illness

Required Viewing

    • 4 Videos
    • 1 Readings
Show info about module content

4 Videos

  • Matthew Nock on suicide
  • Lara Ray on alcohol use disorders
  • Diane C. Gooding on schizophrenia
  • Abigail Marsh on psychopathy

1 Readings

  • Week 3: Recommended Readings (required videos)

Optional Viewing

    • 3 Videos
    • 1 Readings
Show info about module content

3 Videos

  • Robert Levenson on severe mental illness
  • Lauren Weinstock on assessment and treatment of suicide
  • Deanna Barch on clinical neuroscience

1 Readings

  • Week 3: Recommended Readings (optional videos)

Assessment

    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Week 3 Quiz

Pre-Learning Discussion

    • 1 Discussion
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • Week 4: Disproportionate Imacts on Marginalized Communities

Required Viewing

    • 4 Videos
    • 1 Readings
Show info about module content

4 Videos

  • Steven Lopez on Latinx mental health
  • Lauren Ng on global mental health
  • April Thames on mental health disparities
  • Kate McLaughlin on stress and trauma

1 Readings

  • Week 4: Recommended Readings (required videos)

Optional Viewing

    • 3 Videos
    • 1 Readings
Show info about module content

3 Videos

  • Darby Saxbe on family systems and hormones
  • Jane Mendle on puberty and mental health
  • Jessica Borelli on parent-child relationships

1 Readings

  • Week 4: Recommended Readings (optional videos)

Assessment

    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Week 4 Quiz

Pre-Learning Discussion

    • 1 Discussion
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • Week 5: Evidence-based Approaches to Treatments & the Science of Happiness

Required Viewing

    • 4 Videos
    • 1 Readings
Show info about module content

4 Videos

  • Laurie Santos on the science of well-being
  • Dacher Keltner on the science of happiness
  • Jacqueline Persons on cognitive behavior therapy
  • Thomas Insel on mental health innovation and technology

1 Readings

  • Week 5: Recommended Readings (required videos)

Optional Viewing

    • 3 Videos
    • 1 Readings
Show info about module content

3 Videos

  • James Gross on emotion regulation and mental health
  • Steven Hollon on treatment for depression
  • Amelia Aldao on cognitive therapy for anxiety

1 Readings

  • Week 5: Recommended Readings (optional videos)

Assessment

    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Week 5 Quiz

Talking About Mental Illness

    • 1 PeerReview
Show info about module content

1 Peer Review

  • Final Project: #talkmentalillness

Auto Summary

#talkmentalillness is a dynamic course tailored for those passionate about personal development and mental health awareness. Led by June Gruber, a seasoned professor and mental health researcher with over 15 years of experience, this course addresses the unprecedented mental health challenges heightened by recent global events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, economic downturns, and social justice movements. The course brings together insights from over 30 experts in psychology research and practice, as well as popular public figures, to explore the causes and innovative treatments of serious mental disorders. It emphasizes the importance of open conversations about mental health, aiming to equip learners with the knowledge to discuss mental health issues confidently and effectively with others. Key topics include definitions of mental illness, stigma, specific psychological disorders (such as anxiety, mood disorders, eating disorders, suicide, substance use, and psychosis), and the disproportionate impact of these issues on marginalized communities. The course also delves into cutting-edge psychological treatments and the science of happiness as it relates to mental health and wellness. This foundational level course, available through Coursera, spans approximately 840 minutes of engaging content. It is part of a larger mission by the University of Colorado Boulder to disseminate mental health research and education globally. Ideal for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of mental health and contribute to meaningful discussions, #talkmentalillness is accessible through a starter subscription, making it an invaluable resource for students, professionals, and the general public alike.

June Gruber
Instructor

June Gruber