MPH Context Certificate: Mental Health and Substance Use

This 12-unit certificate provides foundational training in the conceptual frameworks, knowledge, and technical skills necessary to understand how mental illness and substance use disorders develop, are manifested, and treated. Utilizing a multi-determinants, population-based public health perspective, students will develop expertise in assessing, preventing, and reducing mental illness and unhealthy substance use, and in promoting mental health and wellness.

Upon graduation, students will be able to:

• Develop a population-based understanding of mental health and unhealthy substance use, using the life course perspective and multi-level framework that emphasize behavioral, social, and structural antecedents and consequences of mental health and substance use.
• Evaluate empirical evidence to describe the burden of mental illness and substance use on individuals, families, communities, and society.
• Apply theories and evaluate empirical evidence on the social determinants of mental health and illness.
• Develop skills in the design, implementation, and evaluation of prevention and harm reduction strategies that address mental health and substance use.
• Propose strategies for promoting mental wellness, building resilience, and supporting substance use recovery in medical and community settings.

Course Requirements

• SPH SB 780 Mental Health and Public Health: A Social and Behavioral Sciences Perspective (4 units) or SPH SB 785 Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Use: People, Populations, and Policies (4 units)*
• Choose 8 units from the following:
  • SPH EP 790 Mental Health Epidemiology (2 units)
  • SPH GH 765 Global Mental Health (2 units)
  • SPH LW 854 Mental Health Law (4 units)
  • SPH MC 783 Substance Use Among Diverse Populations (4 units)
  • SPH MC 800 Preventing Mental Health Concerns: A Life Perspective (2 units)
  • SPH PM 758 Introduction to Mental Health Services (2 units)
  • SPH PM 785 Mental Health Advocacy (2 units)
  • SPH PM 795 Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Policy and Politics (4 units)
  • SPH SB 730 Stress as a Public Health Problem (2 units)
  • SPH SB 832 Trauma, Trauma-Informed Care, Recovery & Resilience (4 units)

*If students take both SPH SB 780 and SB 785, one will serve as a required course, and the second will serve as an elective.