The Post-Graduate Diploma in Community Mental Health and Human Rights was founded in 1997 to equip students with real skills and to help them make the transition from theoretical, class-based study to skilled and practical application within the community. The project represents a concerted attempt to break away from a strictly medical model, with its tendency to focus on the micro level of mental health. In its place, the project has adopted a more holistic approach, placing the study of mental health within its wider social, political, environmental, and biological context. The course further seeks to shift psychiatric therapy from its traditional Freudian focus on the individual (and his unconscious motivational conflicts) toward an emphasis on social, interpersonal care and the role of a person's environment in his mental well being.

The Diploma project encourages candidates to explore theoretical concepts in community mental health and human rights, in addition to their practical applications. Wide exposure to clinical experience enables them to discover their particular interests in the broad field of mental health and at the same time learn about many different areas and how to integrate them in clinical practice and research.

The course is firmly grounded in GCMHP's community-based philosophy that emphasizes a shift from segregated and self-contained mental health care systems within institutions to community-based therapy and community involvement in health-related issues. It also emphasizes a change in the role of mental health professionals from providers of mental health care to facilitators of that care, empowering individuals to solve their problems using the resources of family and community institutions like schools and mosques. No course in mental health would be complete without analysis of the interplay between health and human rights and the role that this relationship plays within the community. The course therefore hopes to expose students to notions of human rights and to highlight the links between these different concepts.

Target Beneficiaries

The admissions process for the Diploma in Community Mental Health focuses on selecting competent, self-motivated, responsible learners who are qualified for post-graduate studies and who will be employable in both the public and private sectors (schools, health centers, prisons, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, women's and children's centers, etc.). Selection is based on review and assessment of an individual's application and supporting documentation. Candidates must hold a BA in psychology, sociology, medicine, or nursing. Any other degree in social sciences or its equivalent will be considered. Applicants must possess a strong command of written and spoken English. Preference is given to applicants with working experience in their field or in mental health or a related area.

International Contributing Universities

Links have already been established with the following Universities:


• Flinders University of South Australia, Australia;
  
• The Psycho-Social Centre for Refugee, Oslo University, Norway;
  
• Islamic University, Gaza-Palestine;
  
• University of California, San Francisco USA;
  
• Tel Aviv University, Israel;
  
• Tunis University, Tunisia;
  
• Utrecht University, Holland.

We have also established higher education links with Oxford University and North Hampton Community Trust, United Kingdom, supported by the British Council; and Suez Canal University, Egypt.

The curriculum for the courses taught by GCMHP is culturally sensitive, based on the needs of the students and the community. The staff at GCMHP is responsible for conducting lectures, as well as for practical training placements. In addition, two courses for community leaders were organized by the Programme. Twenty women leaders completed the courses in 1995 and 1997. Also in 1997, two six-month training courses for childcare providers were offered. GCMHP conducted several short courses for political prisoners, teachers, and other health and social development professions.

Annex II: The Diploma Course Content

Core Modules

Child/Adolescent Mental Health Module
This module aims to give the participants a general knowledge of normal child development, normal pathological development, and the different theories applied to development. It also acquaints the participants with the impact of society and the family on children's health and development, as well as notions of children's rights.

Social Psychology Module
The social psychology module highlights the main topics related to social perception and cognition, attitudes toward change, altruistic behavior, social influence, group dynamics, and the effect of the environment on group behavior.

Clinical Psychiatry Module
This module clarifies the main psychiatric disorders with an emphasis on adult psychiatry. After completion of the module, participants will be able to recognize the different therapeutic approaches and their indications. The classifications of mental disorders, as well as the etiology and mental state examination, will be clarified.

Communication and Counseling Module
This module aims to make the participants aware of their own interpersonal behavior, to introduce them to different counseling approaches, and to help them develop and understanding of successful communication techniques and the barriers to communication.

Culture, Mental Health and Human Rights Module
This module highlights the links between social structure, norms, values, power, and mental health. It provides participants with the tools to analyze the sources of stress within a society, in order that they might better understand the complex and vital relationship between culture and mental health. The instruction adopts a "rights" approach, which will help participants begin to distinguish between functional and dysfunctional aspects of a culture, in terms of promoting an environment that encourages and sustains mental health and human flourishing. Human rights are defined as those rights that every person possesses, simply by virtue of being human; it is through the enjoyment of these rights that he is able to survive, enjoy well being, and attain fulfillment.

Trauma, Stress, and Coping Module
This module aims to give students a general background about the basic individual and collective reaction to trauma, as well as the indications of emotional disturbances. The role of professionals in dealing with survivors of severe trauma will be analyzed, in addition to relevant human rights' issues.

Clinical Psychology Module
The clinical psychology module highlights the elements of psychotherapeutic linguistics, self-psychology, social system theories, and recent theoretical developments like object relation. The module also underscores the role of the therapist in groups.

Research Methodology Module
This module aims to acquaint the participants with the different methods of research. Coursework will cover the design of surveys and other useful research procedures, such as content analysis, use of personal documents, and archival research. It will also introduce participants to sampling, statistics, and reports.

Community Mental Health Module
Throughout this module, participants will be made aware of aspects of community mental health. They will develop a basic knowledge of prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of mental health problems within the community. Gender and mental health, as well as other social factors of health, will be discussed, as will the politics of communities and health rights.

Mental Health Education Module
Upon completion of this module, participants will be able to identify the different approaches to community health education, the barriers to health education and health promotion, the politics of health promotion, and the health belief model. The module will explore ways of educating people about their right to be involved in decisions related to their health and their futures and their role in determining those futures.