Mind, "Madness" and Society: An Introduction to the Sociology of Mental Illness
UndergraduateLTU-SOC30012025
Course information for 2025 intake View information for 2024 course intake
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Enrol by
- 20 July 2025
- Entry requirements
- Prior study needed
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Price from
- $2,124
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Mind, "Madness" and Society: An Introduction to the Sociology of Mental Illness
About this subject
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Apply sociological concepts to understanding and analysing mental health and illness.
- Critically analyse key concepts and theories in the sociology of mental health and illness.
- Summarise and evaluate research and arguments on a specific topic in the sociology of mental health and illness at the appropriate level.
- Demonstrate awareness of lived experience of mental ill-health and family care-giving.
- Mental Disorder
- Deinstitutionalisation and Community Care
- Mental Health Policy
- Human Rights
- Inequalities in Mental Illness
- The Depression "Epidemic"
- Family Caregiving
- Experiences of Mental Illness
Do you ever wonder why mental health has become such a big issue in today’s society? And why we seem to have an epidemic of anxiety and depression, and ADHD? Or why there are such high rates of suicide among males in rural areas and psychological distress experienced by Indigenous people, refugees, and young people? In this subject, we will explore the history of different social responses to mental illness; the expansion in diagnosable mental disorders; inequalities in mental health related to class, gender, Indigeneity, age, and other markers of difference; subjective experiences of mental illness; family caregiving practices; and the rise of the “happiness industry”. Our examination of these topics is organised around several key questions: Can we claim that people are more distressed today than in previous generations? If so, is this linked to particular changes in our social and material conditions, or to how we define and respond to mental illness and emotional suffering? Are we getting better at supporting neurodiverse persons? Or do assumptions around ‘normality’ still constrain forms of recognition and belonging? We will use a broad range of sociological studies to build an understanding of the social causes and consequences of mental illness, and an awareness of lived experience perspectives.
- Online quizzes - equivalent 900-words Multiple-choice questions on weekly required readings (One Quiz early assessment 10%) (22%)
- Research assignment - 1,100-words (28%)
- Essay 2,000-words Essay topics related to key social "problems". (50%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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- QS Ranking 2024:
- 17
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 18
Entry requirements
Others
Prerequisites: Students must have completed 30 credit points of Level two subjects.
Past La Trobe University students who have previously completed SOC2MIN (Mind, "Madness" and Society: An Introduction to the Sociology of Mental Illness) are ineligible to enrol in this subject.
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
What to study next?
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Health Sciences
UndergraduateLAT-AHS-DEG
UndergraduateLAT-ART-DEG
UndergraduateLAT-HSC-DEG
UndergraduateLAT-BUS-DEG
Bachelor of Information Technology
UndergraduateLAT-TEC-DEG
Bachelor of Psychological Science
UndergraduateLAT-PYS-DEG
UndergraduateLAT-CYS-DEG
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