Mental Health Issues Across the Lifespan

This subject focuses on the interplay between developmental factors and psychological functioning across the lifespan. Students will learn about key developmental tasks and transitions at each developmental stagefrom the perinatal period to the end-of-life stage, and will practice applying this knowledge to clinical case formulation. The subject covers approaches to engagement, assessment, diagnosis, and intervention at each developmental stage , and ways in which interventions need to be tailored in light of maturational, cultural, and other contextual variables . Topics nclude mental health in the perinatal period; working with attachment-related concerns in clinical practice; social, emotional and behavioural problems of early and middle childhood; engaging adolescents; developmental tasks and transitions in early adulthood, mid-life and old age; and psychological intervention in the context of dementia.