This interdisciplinary course will provide an overview of foundational concepts that shape mental health practice. Learners will examine historical influences in mental health, theoretical perspectives, and classification systems of mental disorders. The course will also focus on the biological basis of mental illness, and various therapeutic modalities including psychological, social, and pharmacological approaches. The foundational concepts are integrated into an examination of the assessment and care of clients experiencing psychotic and cognitive disorders (including schizophrenia, dementia, and delirium).