Book Title: Mental and Physical Health Dimensions
Book Description: Mental and Physical Health Dimensions is a comprehensive yet accessible resource designed for students pursuing health degrees in Australia. Rooted in an evidence-based, interdisciplinary approach, this textbook bridges the gap between mental and physical health, reinforcing the interconnected nature of well-being. With a strong Australian context, it provides students with relevant, real-world applications that align with contemporary healthcare practices. Structured into clear, manageable sections, the text allows learners to engage deeply with content while maintaining flexibility to focus on their specific areas of interest. Covering crucial health topics, including Mental Health Care in Australia, Mental Health Promotion, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health and wellbeing, Regulation of mind, body and behaviour and holistic wellness approaches, this resource offers a practical, student-friendly format that supports both foundational learning and professional development.
Contents
Book Information
Book Description
Mental and Physical Health Dimensions is an open-access textbook designed to provide students, educators, and healthcare professionals with a comprehensive, evidence-based, and accessible resource on the interconnectedness of mental and physical health. Developed with a strong emphasis on the Australian healthcare context, this book explores key concepts in mental health nursing, holistic patient care, multidisciplinary collaboration, and workforce development, ensuring learners gain the foundational knowledge necessary to provide high-quality, person-centered care.
Rooted in the principles of inclusivity, equity, and student wellbeing, this book addresses crucial areas of mental health care, offering insights into the evolving role of healthcare professionals, including nurses, social workers, dietitians, peer support workers, and allied health practitioners. It highlights essential Mental health in Australia, Mental health promotion, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health and wellbeing, Regulation of mind, body and behaviour and holistic wellness approaches, preparing students for real-world clinical practice while encouraging an understanding of evidence-based interventions.
This resource has undergone a rigorous peer-review process to ensure accuracy, relevance, and quality, making it a valuable learning tool for undergraduate and postgraduate students in nursing, mental health, and related fields.
As an open-access textbook, Mental and Physical Health Dimensions is free to use, adapt, and share, ensuring that financial barriers do not hinder access to high-quality education. By bridging the gap between academia, clinical practice, and lived experience, this book empowers students to develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to contribute to the mental health care and deliver integrated, patient-centred care.
Licence
Mental and Physical Health Dimensions Copyright © 2025 by Flinders University, Paul Cooper and Alice Standfield is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.
Subject
Mental health services
Metadata
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Mental and Physical Health Dimensions Copyright © 2025 by Flinders University, Paul Cooper and Alice Standfield is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.
This book was published by Flinders University and University of South Australia via the Council of Australasian University Librarians Open Educational Resources Collective. The online version is available at https://oercollective.caul.edu.au/mental-physical-health-dimensions.
Disclaimer
Note that corporate logos and branding are specifically excluded from the Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial Licence of this work, and may not be reproduced under any circumstances without the express written permission of the copyright holders.
Copyright
Mental and Physical Health Dimensions by Paul Cooper, Raymond Tini and Alice Standfield is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial 4.0 Licence by Flinders University and University of South Australia
Copyright for content created by Raymond Tini is held by Flinders University.
Copyright for content created by Paul Cooper and Alice Standfield is held by each author respectively.
Recommended citation: Cooper, P., Tini, R. and Standfield A. (2025). Mental and Physical Health Dimensions. Flinders University & University of South Australia. https://oercollective.caul.edu.au/mental-physical-health-dimensions.
This publication includes various third-party materials, for which we have secured the necessary permissions and licenses for reproduction. All such materials are distinctly labelled within the resource and cannot be duplicated without explicit consent from the copyright holders.
Recommended attribution: Mental and Physical Health Dimensions by Paul Cooper, Raymond Tini and Alice Standfield is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial 4.0 Licence by Flinders University and University of South Australia.
Cover illustration: Microsoft. (2025). CoPilot (February 27 version) [Large language model]. https://www.microsoft365.com/chat/?from=PortalHome