CoNNECT: Media & Mental Health Communication

About Course

CoNNECT is a 12-week certificate course in Media & Mental Health Communication for Health Professionals, offered by the Mental Health Education Department, NIMHANS, with Augmenta Health Private Limited as collaborator. The course develops clear, evidence-based and responsible public communication through recorded learning, live Q&A, case discussions, media analysis, role plays, simulations and practical assignments. Medium: English.

Eligibility and admission

Health and allied-health professionals.
Graduates from diverse academic backgrounds who have completed an undergraduate degree from a recognised institution.
Basic computer proficiency is required.
Online application followed by eligibility screening and final MHED approval. An application does not confirm admission.

Apply through the existing CoNNECT application form. The listed course fee is ₹5,000; payment and access instructions follow approval. No payment is collected with the application.

Course structure

Weeks 1–2: Introduction to Media & Mental Health.
Weeks 3–4: Effective Communication Strategies.
Weeks 5–6: Ethical Engagement with Media.
Weeks 7–8: Stigma Reduction & Narrative Framing.
Weeks 9–10: Practical Media Training.
Weeks 11–12: Final Project — Real-World Media Engagement.

Assessment and completion

Quizzes: 40%.
Case-based and media-analysis assignments: 30%.
Final real-world media project: 30%.
Minimum attendance: 80%.
Two attempts for the final assessment.
Certification upon completion of course requirements.

Professional boundaries

This course builds communication and advocacy skills. It does not qualify participants to diagnose or treat through media engagement. Confidential or sensitive patient information must not be published without explicit consent.

Course Content

Module 1 · Introduction to Media & Mental Health (Weeks 1–2)
Separate a factual claim from interpretation and persuasion. Assess provenance, evidence quality and missing context. Write a justified publish, revise or pause decision.

1.1 Media narratives and public understanding
1.2 Verification, misinformation and visual checks
M1 knowledge check · 5 points
A1 · Media claim verification audit

Module 2 · Effective Communication Strategies (Weeks 3–4)
Translate technical language without changing meaning. Develop one main message and a practical action. Respond to sensitive questions without speculation.

Module 3 · Ethical Engagement with Media (Weeks 5–6)
Identify consent, privacy and power concerns. Plan ethical participation across media formats. Respond to digital harm without amplifying it.

Module 4 · Stigma Reduction & Narrative Framing (Weeks 7–8)
Identify stigma in wording, images and assumptions. Develop a recovery-oriented narrative without guarantees. Include lived-experience contributors meaningfully.

Module 5 · Practical Media Training (Weeks 9–10)
Deliver a concise interview with evidence and boundaries. Respond to loaded questions and correct mistakes. Use structured feedback to improve performance.

Module 6 · Final Project — Real-World Media Engagement (Weeks 11–12)
Plan an evidence-based campaign for a defined audience. Produce an accessible and ethically reviewed prototype. Evaluate audience response and defend revisions.

Student Ratings & Reviews

No Review Yet

About Course

Eligibility and admission

Course structure

Assessment and completion

Professional boundaries

What Will You Learn?

Course Content

Module 1 · Introduction to Media & Mental Health (Weeks 1–2)
Separate a factual claim from interpretation and persuasion. Assess provenance, evidence quality and missing context. Write a justified publish, revise or pause decision.

1.1 Media narratives and public understanding

1.2 Verification, misinformation and visual checks

M1 knowledge check · 5 points

A1 · Media claim verification audit

Module 2 · Effective Communication Strategies (Weeks 3–4)
Translate technical language without changing meaning. Develop one main message and a practical action. Respond to sensitive questions without speculation.

2.1 Plain language, framing and responsible storytelling

2.2 Difficult questions and sensitive public communication

M2 knowledge check · 5 points

A2 · Plain-language message and interview response

Module 3 · Ethical Engagement with Media (Weeks 5–6)
Identify consent, privacy and power concerns. Plan ethical participation across media formats. Respond to digital harm without amplifying it.

3.1 Consent, confidentiality and public interest

3.2 Digital ethics, harassment and crisis response

M3 knowledge check · 5 points

A3 · Ethics and digital incident response plan

Module 4 · Stigma Reduction & Narrative Framing (Weeks 7–8)
Identify stigma in wording, images and assumptions. Develop a recovery-oriented narrative without guarantees. Include lived-experience contributors meaningfully.

4.1 Recognising stigma in language and imagery

4.2 Recovery-oriented narratives and lived-experience partnership

M4 knowledge check · 5 points

A4 · Stigma-free narrative and campaign prototype

Module 5 · Practical Media Training (Weeks 9–10)
Deliver a concise interview with evidence and boundaries. Respond to loaded questions and correct mistakes. Use structured feedback to improve performance.

5.1 Interview preparation and platform adaptation

5.2 Press conferences, crisis messages and feedback

M5 knowledge check · 5 points

A5 · Simulated interview and press briefing

Module 6 · Final Project — Real-World Media Engagement (Weeks 11–12)
Plan an evidence-based campaign for a defined audience. Produce an accessible and ethically reviewed prototype. Evaluate audience response and defend revisions.

6.1 Campaign design, evidence and risk planning

6.2 Audience testing, evaluation and portfolio presentation

M6 knowledge check · 5 points

Final assessment · 10 points · two attempts

Final project · Evidence-based mental-health media campaign

About Course

Eligibility and admission

Course structure

Assessment and completion

Professional boundaries

What Will You Learn?

Course Content

Module 1 · Introduction to Media & Mental Health (Weeks 1–2) Separate a factual claim from interpretation and persuasion. Assess provenance, evidence quality and missing context. Write a justified publish, revise or pause decision.

1.1 Media narratives and public understanding

1.2 Verification, misinformation and visual checks

M1 knowledge check · 5 points

A1 · Media claim verification audit

Module 2 · Effective Communication Strategies (Weeks 3–4) Translate technical language without changing meaning. Develop one main message and a practical action. Respond to sensitive questions without speculation.

2.1 Plain language, framing and responsible storytelling

2.2 Difficult questions and sensitive public communication

M2 knowledge check · 5 points

A2 · Plain-language message and interview response

Module 3 · Ethical Engagement with Media (Weeks 5–6) Identify consent, privacy and power concerns. Plan ethical participation across media formats. Respond to digital harm without amplifying it.

3.1 Consent, confidentiality and public interest

3.2 Digital ethics, harassment and crisis response

M3 knowledge check · 5 points

A3 · Ethics and digital incident response plan

Module 4 · Stigma Reduction & Narrative Framing (Weeks 7–8) Identify stigma in wording, images and assumptions. Develop a recovery-oriented narrative without guarantees. Include lived-experience contributors meaningfully.

4.1 Recognising stigma in language and imagery

4.2 Recovery-oriented narratives and lived-experience partnership

M4 knowledge check · 5 points

A4 · Stigma-free narrative and campaign prototype

Module 5 · Practical Media Training (Weeks 9–10) Deliver a concise interview with evidence and boundaries. Respond to loaded questions and correct mistakes. Use structured feedback to improve performance.

5.1 Interview preparation and platform adaptation

5.2 Press conferences, crisis messages and feedback

M5 knowledge check · 5 points

A5 · Simulated interview and press briefing

Module 6 · Final Project — Real-World Media Engagement (Weeks 11–12) Plan an evidence-based campaign for a defined audience. Produce an accessible and ethically reviewed prototype. Evaluate audience response and defend revisions.

6.1 Campaign design, evidence and risk planning

6.2 Audience testing, evaluation and portfolio presentation

M6 knowledge check · 5 points

Final assessment · 10 points · two attempts

Final project · Evidence-based mental-health media campaign

Student Ratings & Reviews

Module 1 · Introduction to Media & Mental Health (Weeks 1–2)
Separate a factual claim from interpretation and persuasion. Assess provenance, evidence quality and missing context. Write a justified publish, revise or pause decision.

Module 2 · Effective Communication Strategies (Weeks 3–4)
Translate technical language without changing meaning. Develop one main message and a practical action. Respond to sensitive questions without speculation.

Module 3 · Ethical Engagement with Media (Weeks 5–6)
Identify consent, privacy and power concerns. Plan ethical participation across media formats. Respond to digital harm without amplifying it.

Module 4 · Stigma Reduction & Narrative Framing (Weeks 7–8)
Identify stigma in wording, images and assumptions. Develop a recovery-oriented narrative without guarantees. Include lived-experience contributors meaningfully.

Module 5 · Practical Media Training (Weeks 9–10)
Deliver a concise interview with evidence and boundaries. Respond to loaded questions and correct mistakes. Use structured feedback to improve performance.

Module 6 · Final Project — Real-World Media Engagement (Weeks 11–12)
Plan an evidence-based campaign for a defined audience. Produce an accessible and ethically reviewed prototype. Evaluate audience response and defend revisions.