Master programme


Community Mental Health

Co-ordinated by Vito Flaker ... and Mojca Urek ...

1.1 Type of qualification: second cycle: masters study programme

1.2 Programme duration: 1 year

1.3 Number of credits (ECTS): 60 ECTS

2. Mode of study: part time

3. The basic programme goals and competences achieved by the programme
To introduce students to a comprehensive study of social work in the field of mental health within the community and to enhance and supplement their knowledge and skills acquired at the under-graduate level in order to improve the quality of community services working with people suffering from long-term mental distress; to provide students with a focused specialisation in specific areas of mental health within the community such as advocacy, individual planning, working with people in acute mental health crises and providing an internationally comparable skill set. The chief goal of this comprehensive programme is to give students a basic framework for under-standing the scope of the field and to introduce them to current policies and new forms of mental health efforts in the community at home and abroad as well as the processes accompanying those. At the same time, students also gain the ability to understand, critically evaluate and use various research methods in the field and they are equipped with the knowledge and methods for the critical evaluation of mental health practices within the community

Competences achieved by the programme

  • critically assess modern theories and existing practices regarding mental health in the community,
  • pursue autonomous professional community work with people with mental health difficulties,
  • critically evaluate the existing mental health service in the community,
  • plan and implement a practical innovative project based on evaluated needs,
  • understand, critically evaluate and apply different methods of qualitative research,
  • research together with users and other actors,
  • understand gender and cultural issues in the context of mental health and anti-discriminatory principles,
  • recognise and reflect on own prejudices,
  • reflect on experiences during practical work and integrate theory and practice,
  • introduce new knowledge to existing teams,
  • apply relevant domestic and international resources,
  • write scientific texts,
  • cooperate in international scientific and practical work,


The student must complete:

  • Compulsory programme subjects, which bring 10 ECTS, (Mental health in everyday life perspective and Innovation and the system of community mental health)
  • Field Work, which brings 10 ECTS,
  • Four optional subjects, each worth 5 ECTS. Two optional subjects from the list are compulsory. The third and the fourth optional subjects, can be chosen from the list or elective subjects from other Master programmes at the Faculty of social work and the Master’s thesis.,
  • The Master’s thesis, which brings 20 ECTS.