Course Aims

The Cambridge Advanced National in Mental Health: Individuals and Society is a Level 3 Alternative Academic Qualification designed to develop students’ knowledge, understanding and applied skills in mental health and wellbeing. The course explores mental health from both individual and societal perspectives, enabling students to understand influences on mental health and the ways in which mental health and wellbeing can be supported across a range of contexts such as organisations, communities and everyday life.

This qualification is designed to be studied alongside A Levels or other Level 3 qualifications and is ideal for students who wish to progress to higher education or careers related to mental health, wellbeing, health and social care, psychology or community support.

Course Structure

Two qualification sizes are available:

  • Certificate – 180 Guided Learning Hours
  • Extended Certificate – 360 Guided Learning Hours

Both qualifications combine examined theory units with internally assessed applied units (NEA), allowing students to develop academic understanding alongside practical and transferable skills.

Course Content

Mandatory Exam Units

  • Fundamentals of Mental Health and the Individual (F400)
    Students explore key concepts of mental health and wellbeing, including the brain and body, factors influencing mental health, models of mental health, common mental health disorders, and strategies for managing mental wellbeing.
  • Mental Health, Wellbeing and Society (F401) (Extended Certificate only)
    This unit examines how society shapes mental health, including changing attitudes, legislation, inequality, public health provision, social media, and global influences on wellbeing.

Mandatory NEA Units

  • Supporting and Promoting Mental Health and Wellbeing in Organisations (F402)
    Students investigate how organisations can support employee mental health by analysing workplace factors, developing wellbeing strategies, designing monitoring tools, and creating mental health campaigns.
  • Community-Based Support for Mental Health and Wellbeing (F403) (Extended Certificate only)
    This unit focuses on social connectedness and social prescribing. Students examine community support, person‑centred care, and how community‑based services can improve mental health outcomes.

Optional NEA Units (choose one – Extended Certificate only)

  • Supporting Mental Health and Wellbeing with Physical Activity (F404)
  • Supporting Mental Health and Wellbeing with Outdoor and Creative Activities (F405)

These units explore how physical, outdoor and creative activities can be used to improve mental health, including planning activities, supporting participation, and evaluating impact.

Course Assessment

  • Examinations: January and June series
  • Non‑Examined Assessment (NEA): Internally assessed practical assignments, externally moderated

The qualification uses a compensatory assessment model, meaning students are awarded grades based on their total achievement across units rather than needing to pass every unit individually.

Grades awarded:
Pass (P), Merit (M), Distinction (D), Distinction* (D*)

Skills Developed

Students will develop a wide range of transferable and academic skills, including:

  • Communication and collaboration
  • Research and referencing
  • Critical thinking and evaluation
  • Problem solving and decision making
  • Time management and independent learning
  • Planning and reviewing applied projects
  • Writing for different purposes and audiences

These skills are highly valued by universities and employers.

Progress

This qualification supports progression to a wide range of higher education courses, including:

  • Mental Health and Wellbeing
  • Psychology
  • Counselling
  • Health and Social Care
  • Public Health
  • Community and Social Studies

It also provides a strong foundation for careers in healthcare, youth work, community support, wellbeing services, HR, and mental health‑focused roles.

Complementary Subjects

The Mental Health qualification combines well with:

  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Health and Social Care
  • Biology / Human Biology
  • Physical Education
  • Business
  • Creative subjects (Art, Drama, Music)

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