Mental health courses

A mental health course covers key topics like mental health conditions and support strategies. You'll learn how to assess mental health, apply intervention techniques, and manage crises. Mental health degrees also touch on the social, biological, and psychological factors that influence mental health.

If you’re yet to start your career, an undergraduate course in counselling, social work, or psychology  can help to build your foundational knowledge. Alternatively, if you already work in a professional capacity and want to become a mental health specialist in your established career, you may instead choose to focus on an area such as:

• Counselling and mental health first aid

• Mental health nursing

• Mental health leadership

• Research and policy

• Forensic mental health

• Mental health for educators

While both mental health and psychology focus on understanding and supporting mental health, there is a difference between the two. Psychology courses dissect human behaviour, mental processes, and therapeutic techniques.

Meanwhile, mental health courses looks at providing support for mental health conditions. Study in both fields can be complementary, depending on your career goals.

For those who study mental health in person, many courses include practical components or placements to help you get hands-on experience. Mental health courses online are no different.

For example, Griffith University’s Master of Mental Health Practice allows you to complete a placement for experience working in the mental health field. These opportunities vary depending on the course, level of study, and university. Whether or not your desired course includes a practical component or placement will be listed on the course page.

Yes, mental health degrees online can be studied part-time, just like on-campus degrees. Many students find online study to be more flexible. It allows you to tailor your study schedule around work, family, and other commitments. 

Often, students who study mental health do so because they want to specialise within their existing career.

A qualification in this field can lead to a wide range of opportunities across industries. From mental health support to law enforcement, you could pursue opportunities in:

• Nursing

• Occupational therapy

• Community services

• Correctional health

• Counselling and psychology

• Social work

• Disability support services

• Youth work

• Law enforcement

• Teaching and education

Graduates can also explore roles in community services, healthcare settings, and non-profit organisations.   Still considering your options? Here are four areas in mental health where job opportunities are growing fast.

Before starting an enrolment, it’s important to read the entry requirements for your chosen course to ensure that you’re eligible to apply. If you don’t quite meet the requirements, we may be able to help you find a pathway into your course.

Chat with us to find out more.

Enrolling online is simple. Here’s how it works:

1. Find your course

• Browse the options on this page.

• Use our comparison tool to explore the different choices.

• Need help? Book a free phone consultation with a student advisor for personalised guidance.

2. Start your enrolment

• When you’re ready, click ‘Start studying now’ on the course page.

• Follow the prompts to begin your enrolment.

• You’ll need to provide supporting documents, such as:

  • Proof of identity

  • Your tax file number

  • A Unique Student Identifier (USI)

3. Wait for confirmation

Your chosen university will email you to confirm if your enrolment has been successful.

Note: Some courses have enquiries and applications handled directly by the university. If this applies, it will be clearly stated on the course listing page.

For more details, check our online self-service enrolment guide. And if you need help at any stage, contact us and we’ll talk you through it.