This course focuses on providing students with evidence-based knowledge and skills required for nursing practitioners to care for their patients, and to meet the challenges of mental health nursing profession. This knowledge and skills are important in providing high quality health services to individuals and families with diverse mental health needs across the lifespan. It addresses major theories pertaining to the field of mental illness & mental wellness in general, and those related directly to nursing the mentally ill. It also introduces students to the legal and ethical principles the nurse needs to protect the rights of the patients and their own rights