Professional Certificate in Mental Health
Objectives
This course aims to equip social workers in the community with knowledge and skills to manage clients with common mental health conditions and complex psycho-social presentations.
At the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Conduct family casework involving common mental health conditions, collaborating in a multi and transdisciplinary context, towards relapse prevention and mental health recovery;
- Apply the Integrated Illness Causation Model in mental health casework with complex psychosocial problems;
- Provide psycho-education to clients and their families about mental wellness, mental illness and treatment; and supporting families in their caregiving roles; and
- Apply relevant legislations and ethical practice in mental health social work.
Who Should Attend
This certificate is targeted at social workers, case managers and community-based counsellors in the medical and social sectors who:
- Have at least 3 years of experience working with clients with common mental health conditions;
- Preferably, have attended basic mental health education at the undergraduate level, mental health first aid training, or the Foundational Module in Mental Health with NUS SWK Department, etc.
Delivery Mode
Face-to-Face Sessions and Preparation Work
Benefits Available
Full PC benefit and preferential rateÂ
Enquiries
Email to swkcpepc@nus.edu.sg
Certificate Outline
Mental Health Classification and Legislation in Mental Health Social Work
[3 to 4 April 2025]
Trainers: Ms Chan Lay Lin, Ms Joanne Chen
Brochure: Download here
Participants will be able to:
- Understand the context in which mental illness is placed and the evolvement of treatment and care concepts.
- Develop an understanding of mental health classification and diagnoses.
- Apply relevant mental health legislation and related legislation in social work interventions with persons with mental health condition.
- Understand the domains of mental state screening with persons with mental health condition
- Apply the Integrated Illness Causation Model and systemic framework in the assessment of mental illness
- Appreciate the roles of social workers in mental health social work
Social Work with Persons with Depressive Disorders
[24 April 2025]
Trainers: Ms Chan Lay Lin, Ms Joanne Chen
Brochure: Download here
Participants will be able to:
- Attain an understanding of the aetiology, symptomology and evidence-based treatment approaches, and course of the illness for individuals with Major Depression and Persistent Depressive Disorders.
- Appreciate the effects of depressive disorders on clients and their families, and related social work intervention.
- Appreciate the relationship between depression and presentations related to grief and bereavement, and suicidal behaviour.
- Apply relevant psychometric tools in the screening of depression.
- Apply the Integrated Illness Causation Model and systemic framework in the assessment and management of complex cases with depressive disorders.
Social Work with Persons with Psychotic Disorders
[1 July 2025]
Trainers: Ms Tracy Wee, Ms Kang Xinyi
Brochure: Download here
Participants will be able to:
- Attain an understanding of the aetiology, symptomology and evidence-based treatment approaches, and course of illness for individuals schizophrenia and delusional disorder.
- Conduct mental state screening with individuals with psychotic disorder
- Appreciate the effects of the illness on individuals and their families, and related social work intervention
- Appreciate the relationship between violence and symptoms in psychotic disorders.
- Apply a systemic approach in the management of cases with individuals with psychosis and complex psycho-social presentation.
- Review relevant legislations and ethical dilemmas involved in the care of individuals with treatment non-compliance and dangerousness.
Social Work with Persons with OCD and Hoarding Disorder
[19 to 20 May 2025]
Trainers: Ms Chan Lay Lin, Dr Jackki Yim, Ms Tammie Kwek
Brochure: Download here
Participants will be able to:
- Attain an understanding of the aetiology, symptomology and evidence-based treatment approaches to:
- OCD
- Hoarding Disorder
- Appreciate the effects of these illness on individuals and their families, and more effectively co -work with mental health professionals to support them in their recovery journey.
- Appreciate the relationship between OCD, Hoarding Disorder and hoarding behaviour.
- Apply the Integrated Illness Causation Model and systemic approach in the management of a complex case involving a client with OCD.
- Effectively manage decluttering with clients with hoarding disorder.
Social Work with Persons with Borderline Personality Disorder
[30 July 2025]
Trainers: Ms Tracy Wee, Mr Gideon Ng
Brochure: Download here
Participants will be able to:
- Attain an understanding of the aetiology, symptomology course of illness and evidence-based treatment approaches, and course of illness for individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD)
- Appreciate the effects of borderline personality disorder on afflicted individuals, their families, their helping and social systems.
- Develop an understanding and management of deliberate self harm and suicidal behaviours in persons with BPD.
- Apply a systemic approach in the management of cases individuals with BPD and complex psychosocial presentation.
- Apply self resiliency strategies in coping with challenging situations in mental health social work
Important Information
- Participants have to complete all courses to qualify for the Professional Certificate in Mental Health.
- Participants who wish to sign up for standalone courses may email to swkcpepc@nus.edu.sg.
Fees
Sign up for standalone courses or complete the full Professional Certificate to enjoy an exclusive rate.
Full Professional Certificate fees
| Professional Certificate fees | Full course fees, excluding GST | Full Professional Certificate Benefit* (*Applicable to all who sign up for the full Professional Certificate), excluding GST |
| Professional Certificate in Mental Health | $6,650 | $3,990 |
Standalone course fees
| Standalone courses | Standalone course fees, excluding GST | Preferential rate* (*Applicable for all social workers/social service practitioners), excluding GST |
| Mental Health Classification and Legislation in Mental Health Social Work |
$1,900 | $1,330 |
| Social Work with Persons with Depressive Disorders |
$950 | $665 |
| Social Work with Persons with Psychotic Disorders |
$950 | $665 |
| Social Work with Persons with Borderline Personality Disorder |
$950 | $665 |
| Social Work with Persons with OCD and Hoarding Disorder |
$1,900 | $1,330 |
| Total course fees | $6,650 | $4,655 |
About the Instructors
Ms Chan Lay Lin
Principal Medical Social Worker,
Institute of Mental Health
Lay Lin is a principal medical social worker and family therapist with the Institute of Mental Health. Currently, she leads the education portfolio in the Medical Social Work Department and carries a clinical load in family therapy and complex casework with persons with mental health problems. Lay Lin has Advanced Certificate in Learning Performance (ACLP) with the Adult Learning Institute.
Lay Lin has served with the National University Hospital, National Cancer Centre and TRANS Centre (Bedok and Bukit Timah Branches) in her social work career. Lay Lin has rich training experience and has been actively involved in the conduct of mental health related education and training for social work undergraduates in NUS, social workers, school teachers, public health officers and first responders.
Ms Tracy Wee
Principal Medical Social Worker,
Institute of Mental Health
Tracy is principal medical social worker and family therapist with the Institute of Mental Health. She is also trained in crisis management and trauma-informed practices. Tracy is a certified Mental Health First Aid and Crisis Intervention Stress Management (CISM-Individual) Instructor. She is a key trainer in the provision of CISM training for Head Care Officers with the Ministry of Education in preparing schools to manage crisis situations. Tracy has Advanced Certificate in Learning Performance (ACLP) with the Adult Learning Institute
Tracy conducts family therapy, complex case management and provides family-based and risk management consultation to the Early Psychosis Intervention Programme (EPIP) in IMH. Tracy is an excellent mental health and family systems educator having served many years in IMH.
Ms Joanne Chen
Senior Medical Social Worker,
Institute of Mental Health
Joanne is a senior medical social worker with IMH. She has a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Social Work, Diploma in Counselling and Advanced Certificate in Learning Performance (ACLP) with the Adult Learning Institute.
Joanne has served patients with mental health conditions in IMH for a decade. She has worked extensively with the multi-disciplinary team in forensic rehabilitative psychiatry, where she served offenders and chronic in-patients with addiction and mental health problems.
Currently, Joanne works largely in the outpatient context, conducting complex case management and counselling using a systemic approach. Joanne is involved in the training of young social workers in the department. In 2023, she reviewed a mental health curriculum and participated in the teaching for students at Ngee Ann Polytechnic. Joanne has been involved in Continuing Professional Education Programme with NUS since 2022.
Ms Kang Xinyi
Senior Medical Social Worker,
Institute of Mental Health
Xinyi is a Senior Medical Social Worker with the Institute of Mental Health. She has obtained her Advanced Practice in Forensic Mental Health (MSc) from The University of Manchester and holds post-graduate qualifications in Counselling and Clinical Supervision. Besides clinical work, Xinyi is also passionate about the training and education of fellow practitioners and students. She participates in the teaching of Social Work undergraduates at the National University of Singapore (NUS), as well as provides training on mental health social work in various settings.
Xinyi began her social work career at the Institute of Mental Health in 2011 and is currently leading a team of medical social workers in a regional inpatient and outpatient setting. Xinyi also has extensive experience in forensic psychiatry, working with both voluntary and involuntary offenders with mental health concerns of varying complexities in the community.
Mr Gideon Ng
Principal Medical Social Worker,
Institute of Mental Health
Gideon started his social work career at the Institute of Mental Health in 2009 and he is currently overseeing the medical social work services at the hospital’s Department of Emergency and Crisis Care. Gideon also leads the administrative development of social work services in the hospital as deputy HOD to improve patient’s quality of care.
Gideon has obtained the Master of Social Work from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and holds post graduate qualifications in counselling as well as clinical supervision. Besides lecturing at NUS, he also speaks regularly in various platforms to provide training on social work and mental health.
Dr Jackki Yim
Principal Clinical Psychologist,
Institute of Mental Health
Jackki Yim is a Principal Clinical Psychologist in the Department of Psychology and the Deputy Head of the Department of Mood and Anxiety at the Institute of Mental Health in Singapore. She received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Massey University, New Zealand and has extensive training from world leading experts in OCD and other anxiety disorders.
Jackki is one of the pioneer members in establishing the first adult OCD specialist clinic and leading the Bergen 4-day treatment and Internet-based CBT for OCD at IMH. Jackki specialises in the assessment and treatment of individuals with severe and complex OCD and other anxiety disorders. She is currently also involved in clinical supervision, training, and research, primary in the area of OCD. As the President of the OCD Network Singapore, a social initiative, Jackki is dedicated to providing unwavering support, resources and hope for those affected by OCD and related disorders.
Ms Tammie Kwek
Senior Clinical Psychologist,
Institute of Mental Health
Ms Tammie Kwek is a Senior Clinical Psychologist in the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Specialised clinic at the Institute of Mental Health, Singapore. She completed her Masters in Clinical Psychology at the National University of Singapore. She is the main author of the first Internet-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (iCBT) for OCD paper in Singapore. Tammie is also the Secretary of the OCD Network Singapore, which is a non-profit society, aimed to support individuals suffering from OCD, their caregivers as well as professionals treating the disorder. Tammie is also an appointed trainer for the Behaviour Therapy Training Institute (BTTI), which is a specialised OCD training for professionals, in collaboration with the International OCD Foundation.