University Degrees to Study Mental Health and Well-Being: Pathways to a Fulfilling Career

With growing global awareness of mental health and a decline in the stigma surrounding it, universities across the UK, US, Australia, and Canada now offer various courses to equip students with knowledge and expertise in this field.

Undergraduate and Postgraduate Studies in Mental Health

Many undergraduate degrees, such as psychology, medicine, and biology, incorporate modules on mental health and well-being. For those seeking more in-depth knowledge, postgraduate programmes offer specialised courses focusing on mental health disorders, their physiological aspects, and therapeutic approaches.

Career Paths and Required Degrees

Depending on the career you aspire to, there are different educational pathways in mental health:

• Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counsellor – Master’s or doctoral degree with certification

• Clinical Psychologist – Doctorate degree

• Clinical Social Work – Master’s degree with licensing

• Licensed Professional Counsellor – Master’s degree

• Marriage and Family Therapist – Master’s degree

• Mental Health Counsellor – Master’s degree

• Nurse Psychotherapist – Master’s degree

• Pastoral Counsellor – Master’s degree with ministry experience

• Peer Specialist – High school diploma or GED with peer experience

• Psychiatric Nurse – Bachelor’s degree, RN registration, and specialised training

• Psychiatrist – Medical school doctorate, residency, and certification

• Psychologist – Doctorate (PsyD or PhD) with licensing

• School Psychologist – Doctorate degree

• Specialised Therapists (Art, Music, Equine, etc.) – Bachelor’s degree with relevant certification

Mental Health and Well-Being Degrees in the US

• Harvard University offers 16 short courses on mental health topics such as depression, trauma recovery, meditation, and dementia. Some courses are online, while others have in-person components.

• University of Pennsylvania provides an advanced psychiatric-mental health nursing degree, covering medication management and biopsychosocial assessment.

• Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University offers a clinical mental health counselling degree with core courses and 14 elective modules.

• University of Rochester has a flexible master’s in mental health counselling, requiring a bachelor's degree in psychology or related fields. The programme includes research, specialisation modules, and six internship credits.

Mental Health and Well-Being Degrees in the UK

• University of West London provides undergraduate courses in addiction studies and mental health nursing, with postgraduate options in dementia care.

• University of Northampton offers a three- or four-year degree covering child, adolescent, and workplace mental health.

• University of East London has a counselling undergraduate programme that includes person-centred therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, and psychodynamic therapy, with 100 hours of placement experience.

• King’s College London offers an MSc in mental health with modules on women’s mental health, community mental health, pharmacotherapies, and mindfulness.

• University of Warwick provides an MSc in mental health and well-being, focusing on workplace stress, experimental design, and data collection.

Mental Health and Well-Being Degrees in Australia

• University of Southern Queensland offers a master’s degree in counselling, specialising in alcohol and drug studies, child and youth therapy, and advanced practice.

• Flinders University provides an undergraduate course covering human bioscience, communication, interprofessional practices, indigenous health, and therapy methods.

Mental Health and Well-Being Degrees in Canada

• University of Toronto has an undergraduate programme in mental health studies, exploring mental health disorders and their impact on daily life.

• University of York offers an MSc in mental health research, covering theory, treatment, research methods, and statistics.

• University of Alberta provides three graduate options:

  • A course-based master’s programme in counselling, including ethical skills and cross-cultural counselling.

  • A thesis-based master’s programme focused on research with a dissertation requirement.

  • A doctoral programme covering psychology history, advanced counselling, and internship experience, culminating in an oral exam and dissertation.

Conclusion

A career in mental health offers numerous paths, from counselling and therapy to psychiatric nursing and clinical psychology. Universities worldwide now offer a range of degree programmes tailored to different specialisations, providing students with the knowledge and practical skills needed to contribute meaningfully to mental health and well-being.