Mental Health
Flexible Delivery
100% online delivery with opportunity to meet with teachers and fellow students.
Study at your own pace
Full-time and part-time study options available to all students.
Enrol and start learning anytime.
FEE-HELP & Scholarships
FEE-HELP is available. No loan fees or application fees apply. Some subjects have scholarships available.
Values-Driven Learning Environment
A learning environment that values compassion, ethics and holistic wellbeing.
Nan Tien Institute’s Mental Health program is one of only a handful in Australia accredited by the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses (ACMHN). This ensures the highest professional standards, while offering a learning experience like no other.
Delivered 100% online, the program is available at three levels:
- Graduate Certificate in Mental Health
- Graduate Diploma in Mental Health
- Master of Mental Health
Combining evidence-based mental health education with NTI’s distinctive contemplative pedagogy, students engage with practices to broaden self-awareness, compassion, and Buddhist philosophy of mind alongside contemporary research and current mental health practices. The result is postgraduate learning that is academically rigorous, personally transformative, and professionally relevant.
Choose from two pathways:
- Flexible Pathway – for professionals in health related fields, education, leadership and community roles, or individuals committed to personal and professional growth, who see mental health knowledge as central to creating meaningful and sustainable change
- Nurse Specialisation (ACMHN accredited) – for registered nurses wanting to achieve an accredited qualification in Mental Health
Delivered in small, personalised classes, by expert educators and health professionals, the program gives you the skills and knowledge to respond to contemporary mental health challenges in evidence-based, ethical, compassionate, and sustainable ways.
Graduate Certificate
in Mental Health
4 subjects
Graduate Diploma in Mental Health
(with Mental Health Nurse specialisation – Non-Clinical)
8 subjects
OR continue with 4 more subjects
Master of Mental Health
(with Mental Health Nurse specialisation – Non-Clinical)
12 subjects
OR continue with 4 more subjects
Graduation Certificate
in Mental Health
4 subjects
Graduation Diploma in Mental Health
(with Mental Health Nurse specialisation – Non-Clinical)
8 subjects
OR continue with 4 more subjects
Master of Mental Health
(with Mental Health Nurse specialisation – Non-Clinical)
12 subjects
OR continue with 4 more subjects
Flexible Pathway
- Designed for health care workers and other professionals who want deeper insights into mental health, resilience and wellbeing
- Personalise your study to your interests
- Learn through NTI’s signature contemplative and evidence-based framework
Mental Health Nurse Specialisation (Non-Clinical)
- Structured professional (non clinical curriculum)
- Delivers professional accreditation
- Supports career progression
- Ideal for busy registered nurses
Let our contemporary curriculum designed and taught by experts give you a pathway to a Masters.
Graduate Certificate in Mental Health
- Develop a foundational understanding of mental health and care so you can support clients more effectively.
- Address contemporary mental health challenges with confidence.
- Use your Graduate Certificate as the next step to further postgraduate study in the Graduate Diploma.
Graduate Certificate in Mental Health
- Develop the capabilities to help others manage their mental health concerns.
- Discover the current treatment approaches and learn how to conduct assessments.
- Use your Graduate Certificate as the next step to further postgraduate study in the Graduate Diploma.
Graduate Diploma in Mental Health
Flexible Pathway
- Deepen your understanding of contemporary mental health challenges and treatment approaches.
- Develop your own mindfulness, reflection and personal awareness practices in order to respond to client, community or workplace mental health related needs.
- Choose to focus on areas of professional or personal interest in contemporary evidence-based mental health.
- Students who successfully complete this course may transfer into the Master program
Graduate Diploma in Mental Health
Nurse Specialisation (Non-Clinical)
- Deepen your understanding of mental health nursing.
- Build on your practice and learning to progress your career in a mental health environment.
- Adopt contemporary strategies to respond to client needs with your understanding of care options.
- Learn how to respond with compassion.
- Students who successfully complete this course may transfer into the Master program.
Master of Mental Health
Flexible Pathway
- Expand your suite of approaches to helping others with their mental health needs.
- Broaden your knowledge and understanding of mental health challenges and care.
- Deepen your personal practice in ways that exemplify compassion and resilience.
Master of Mental Health
Nurse Specialisation (Non-Clinical)
- Deepen and extend your knowledge and skills in mental health nursing.
- Develop the capability to lead with compassion.
- Gain career recognition and advanced practice opportunities.
What do our students say?
Explore Mental Health Subjects
Below is a list of all the subjects available for Mental Health (MH) enrolments. Access to specific subject requirements will vary depending on the course chosen (i.e. Masters, Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate). Please refer to information about specific courses for details on core and elective subject schedules.
MH801
Mind-Body Wellness in Mental Health
Critically analyse the psychological, emotional, physical, social, and environmental factors that affect welness in individuals and communities. The subject focuses on contemporary research and practical applications of mind-body wellness, with an emphasis on mental health.
MH902
Nutrition and Mental Health
Explore the critical role of nutrition in the prevention, management, and treatment of mental health conditions, including eating disorders by examining how nutrients interact with brain physiology, the nervous system, and mental health outcomes.
MH903
Research Methods in Mental Health
Learn how to effectively search the literature, critically appraise evidence and assess its significance. Students will also critically analyse mental health research from an ethical perspective and understand the importance of lived experience perspectives in research.
MH904
Ethics, Mental Health and Buddhism
Explore the ethical dimensions of mental health care through both Western and Buddhist perspectives, including issues of autonomy, cultural diversity, end-of-life care and emerging ethical issues around new technology (AI), data use and digital mental health interventions.
MH912
Interpersonal Skills for Mental Health Professionals
Examine a range of evidence-based and best-practice approaches to coaching and counselling for health and wellbeing, and develop practical skills via peer and client practice, under supervision.
MH913
Mental Health in Ageing
Consider the healthcare needs of older people, social policy and legislation, and the impact of how older people are represented in media. Analyse the role of compassion within healthcare provision for older people, and the Buddhist perspective on death and dying.
MH914
Mental Health and Wellness
This subject explores emerging research and recent developments in our understanding of mental health and wellbeing, including severe challenges to mental health and the associated impact on the lives of people having these experiences, and their families and communities.
MH915
Therapy Through Art
This subject explores Mental Health, Art and Culture in a broader context and how they relate to individual and societal wellbeing. Students will examines the model and methods of art therapy and explores use within a range of mental health conditions.
MH916
Healing Traditions: Buddhism and Psychotherapy
Explores the therapeutic actions of Buddha’s core teachings and practice of mindfulness, the theoretical and neurobiological basis of meditation training, and the ethics of integrating Buddhism into psychotherapeutic practice. This subject includes experiential exercises.
MH921
Mindful Nature Connection
A transformative subject focused on mindfulness and nature can affect personal development and self-care from both Western and Buddhist perspectives. Students participate in experiential learning and reflect on their own environmental relationships.
NTI800
Critical Inquiry
This subject is designed to prepare students to be successful in their postgraduate studies, develop critical thinking, research and communication skills, and introduce contemplative inquiry, which underpins the postgraduate curriculum.
HSW905
Compassion at Work
This subject examines the implications of compassion in health care for individuals, organisations and society, and offers both applied and theoretical experiences for personal and professional development in health care.