PSYC477-23S2 (C) Semester Two 2023

Mental Health and Food

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 17 July 2023
End Date: Sunday, 12 November 2023
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 30 July 2023
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 1 October 2023

Description

The goal of the course is that students will learn about nutrition and mental health, the consequences of poor nutrition, the role of different diets on mental health, how nutrients exert their effects on mental health chemically, and the potential for nutritional therapies in treating mental illness. In addition, non-nutritional components (natural and additives) of food will be explored in the context of neurological effects to give the student an appreciation of the emerging importance of non-nutritive food components in mental health.

This is a one-semester, 15-point course in which we will introduce the role that food and nutrients play in the expression of mental illness and wellness through discussion of the biological mechanisms, the evidence across the lifespan that food impacts mental health and the clinical application of this knowledge.

The goals of the course are that students will learn about food and mental health, the consequences of poor nutrition, the role of different diets in the expression of mental health, and the potential for nutritional therapies. In addition, non-nutritional components (natural and additives as well as environmental toxins) of food will be explored to give the student an appreciation of the emerging importance of non-nutritive food components in mental health.

Learning Outcomes

  • Comprehend the complexities associated with studying how food and nutrients might play a role in the expression of mental illness (assessment task: group presentation, essay)
  • Critically evaluate studies on food and mental health and the controversy associated with this line of research (assessment task: group presentation, essay, e-activities)
  • Developed and demonstrated skills in communicating the findings of scientific research on nutrients and mental health to different target audiences (assessment task: group presentation, video, essay)
  • Comprehend the role of nutrients and food in the expression of psychiatric and psychological symptoms (assessment task: group presentation, video, essay)

Prerequisites

PSYC335 and subject to Head of Department approval.

Timetable Note

Students are expected to attend lectures in person.

Course Coordinator

Julia Rucklidge

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage 
100-word proposal for recorded video/essay 5%
On-line engagement in e-activities 10%
Completion of knowledge checks 10%
In class Future Problem Solving Challenge (5% for feedback to other groups) 25%
Essay 30%
Recorded Video 20%

Textbooks / Resources

Required Texts

Rucklidge, J. J. & Kaplan, B. J; The Better Brain: How Nutrition Will Help You Overcome Anxiety, Depression, ADHD and Stress ; Penguin Random House, UK, 2021.

You will also be assigned readings which you will be expected to read before that relevant class. These will be made available on Learn one week before the class.

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $1,114.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see School of Psychology, Speech and Hearing .

All PSYC477 Occurrences

  • PSYC477-23S2 (C) Semester Two 2023
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