Health education courses to change your perception of stress

01 Oct 2020

What is health education? Compared to the broad field of public health, health education is a focused area of study. It is a sub-discipline of public health and specifically targets positions that plan, implement and evaluate health programmes. Health educators bring health and wellness to corporations, non-profits, and various communities. This is done through programmes, services, and other suggestions.

Today’s university students are likely to be under stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to research from the faculty at Binghamton University, the State University of New York, college health courses could help in developing a more positive stress mindset for certain personality types.

Researchers at Binghamton and Wellness Studies Lecturer Jennifer Wegmann sought out to evaluate the impact of health education on stress mindsets when there is a specific focus on improving individual health and well-being. “Neurotic students tend to be worriers with high anxiety. The findings of this research show how focusing on their health, in general, can change these typically high-stressed students’ beliefs about the stress they experience,” said Wegmann.

Environmental, physical, social, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, and reproductive health are all areas that encompass Health Education. If you are looking to pursue a career in the field or change your perception of stress, here are some free online courses to get you started:

Introduction to Psychology

This course is offered by Yale University for free on Coursera. It provides a comprehensive overview of the scientific study of thought and behavior while exploring topics such as perception, communication, learning, memory, decision-making, persuasion, emotions, and social behavior. Coursera reports that 18% of learners have received a tangible career benefit upon completion of this course.

Understanding the Brain: The Neurobiology of Everyday Life

Offered by The University of Chicago, this course is available for free on Coursera. Learners will be able to learn about how the nervous system produces behaviour, how our brain is used everyday, and how neuroscience can explain the common problems that afflict people today.

Functional human neuroanatomy and neuronal communication are also taught in this beginner’s course. Coursera reports that 50% of learners started a new career, while 30% received a tangible career benefit and 11% received a pay increase or promotion upon completion.

Science of Exercise

This free course is offered by The University of Colorado, Boulder, and is hosted by Coursera. Upon completion, learners will have an improved physiological understanding of how our bodies respond to exercise. They will be able to identify behaviours, choices, and environments that impact health and training. Learners will also be able to examine the scientific evidence behind how exercise prevents and treats heart disease, diabetes, cancer, obesity, depression, and dementia.

Coursera reports that 59% of learners started a new career, while 54% received a tangible career benefit upon completion.

Managing Study, Stress, and Mental Health at University

This free, two-week course is offered by Curtin University via edX. It was designed to assist learners in developing a clear understanding of what mental health is and how to recognise and respond to mental health concerns such as negative thoughts and behaviors.

It was developed in response to the growing needs of students who can benefit from the knowledge and skills to recognise and identify mental health challenges within themselves and others.

Essentials of Global Health

This free course is offered by Yale University, 100% online, and hosted by Coursera. It was designed to be a comprehensive introduction to global health, meant to introduce this topic in a way that is clear and easy to comprehend. It focuses on five questions: What do people get sick, disabled, and die from? Why do they suffer from these conditions? Which people are most affected? Why should we care about such concerns? What can be done to address key health issues as fast as possible, and in sustainable ways?

Coursera reports that 44% of learners have started a new career, while 45% got a tangible career benefit, and 25% got a pay increase or promotion upon completion.