This subject critically examines the nature of mental illness and mental wellbeing. Historical and contemporary approaches to mental health and recovery will be reviewed. Diverse explanations for the origins of profound symptoms will also be explored. Mental health assessment tools commonly encountered by counsellors and psychotherapists are presented and their practical applications examined. Through case studies and autobiographical accounts, the voices of those with lived experience of major mental health issues will inform student learning in this subject. This subject invites students to critically evaluate mental health services from a range of perspectives and consider the role of counselling and psychotherapy alongside multiple pathways to recovery. Students will critically evaluate this knowledge and apply it in their development of skills in various psychotherapeutic methods to assist recovery and mental wellness.