This course is designed to assist students in acquiring knowledge, skills and attitudes in the effective care and treatment of psychiatric maladaptive states. It defines mental health and examines how societal attitudes and personal attitude can promote wellbeing. It also examines the role of current trends in the care of the mentally ill, factors influencing mental illness, legal aspects of mental illness and the theoretical basis for therapy. Therapeutic communication and crisis intervention constitute a critical component of the course. Other topics covered are psychotic, neurotic and organic states, character disorders and chemical dependency and drug abuse.