This course explores what diagnoses are, the classification systems used by professionals, the prevalence of several diagnoses and how experiences often occur on a spectrum. Additionally, this course looks at the impact of receiving a diagnosis, the stigma surrounding diagnoses and the controversies around some diagnoses. Lastly, this course considers a few possibilities for alternatives to the current diagnostic systems.
This course will take approximately 40 to 70 minutes to complete, but this timing will depend on how fast you read and how long you spend on the activities and reflective questions. You do not need to complete the whole course in one go. If you leave and come back to the course it will remember where you got up to.
If you would like to get a certificate for this course, you must mark each page complete. You can do this by pressing the ‘mark complete’ button at the bottom of each page.
This course is designed for educational and informational purposes only. It does not provide therapy, medical advice or professional support. If you need crisis support, please contact local mental health services, your GP or telephone 111 or the emergency services on 999.
Course created by a Recovery College Online trainer. Last reviewed April 2025.