New for September 2026.
The AAQ in Mental Health: Individuals & Society will develop your independence and confidence in applying the knowledge and skills that are vital for progression to higher education and relevant to the health and social care sector. It is a course suitable for those who wish to develop applied knowledge and skills in mental health and wellbeing and who want to progress onto other related study such as mental health and wellbeing, public health, community studies and environmental health. It also provides an excellent pathway to allied health professions, nursing, midwifery, teaching, childcare, social work, policing and counselling. This course aligns well with other subjects including Psychology, Sociology, Health and Social Care, Criminology, Early Childhood Development and Business Studies. We will follow the Cambridge OCR Level 3 Advanced National in Mental Health: Individuals & Society (AAQ) specification.
In the first unit you will learn the concepts of mental health and wellbeing and gain insight into what constitutes good mental health. You will explore the factors that influence mental health and wellbeing and how they can change across various life stages. You will also learn different models of mental health, common mental disorders and effective strategies for managing mental health and promoting wellbeing. In the second unit you will learn about what society is and what shapes societies. You will learn about how views on mental health in society have changed over time, including how attitudes to people with mental health disorders and approaches to care have evolved. You will learn about mental health and wellbeing in society today, including how it is measured, how to interpret data and trends about mental health and wellbeing, and how this data can be used to understand inequalities in the diagnosis of and provision of treatment for mental health disorders.
In the third unit you will learn about how organisations support the mental health of their employees. You will learn about the features of work that can have an impact on mental health. You will also learn about good practice for improving mental health and the factors affecting employees in the workplace. In the fourth unit you will learn the importance of social connectedness and social prescribing in the community. You will learn about the role of the social prescribing link worker, and the benefits, processes and factors affecting social prescribing. You will learn the importance of emphasising a person-centred approach to care, the skills needed to support individuals and local community provisions.
Units
1. Fundamentals of mental health and the individual
2. Mental health, wellbeing and society
3. Supporting and promotion mental health and wellbeing in organisations
Units
4. Community-based support for mental health and wellbeing
5. Optional unit to be confirmed – either Supporting mental health and wellbeing with physical activity or Supporting mental health and wellbeing with outdoor and creative activities.
Assessment
Units 1 and 2 will be assesed by exam and are worth 50% of the qualification. Units 3, 4 and 5 will be assessed with coursework and are worth 50% of the qualification.
Entry Requirements
Minimum 55444 including minimum 4 in English and Maths GCSE.
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