

About the course
Are you interested in the subject of physical and mental trauma, its treatments and its representation? Do you know just how devastating the effects of the First World War were in terms of casualties across the many combatant nations? Have you ever wondered how it all began?
We've collated a range of free content for you to take your learning further with in-depth free courses and features on this fascinating subject and more.
If you follow our free World War 1: Trauma and Memory course on FutureLearn, stop by OpenLearn each week of the course to find articles, podcasts and plenty more so you can explore that week's topics in more depth.
To find out more about our range of short courses starting from £160 visit our short courses page.
Become an OU student of History
The Open University offers a range of degree courses and modules in History as well as a Masters in History.
Not ready for that step? Take a look at our free OpenLearn courses on this subject.
Dig deeper into week three
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World War 1: Trauma and Memory - Bibliography
The course may have finished but you can keep on learning about this fascinating subject with our bibliography.
Read nowWorld War 1: Trauma and Memory - BibliographyArticle
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Death and society
Richard Wilson interviews Glennys Howarth about her research into how attitudes towards death changed in British Society during the course of the twentieth century
Watch nowDeath and societyVideo
Level: 1 Introductory
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Film and society
Fred Davies explores the interfaces between cinema, culture and history.
Read nowFilm and societyArticle
Level: 1 Introductory
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only alice under CC-BY-NC-ND licence under Creative-Commons license
Wipe out: Can you remove memories?
In this extract from episode six of Breaking Science, Doctor Chris Smith and Helen Scales discuss a scientific development which might, one day, lead to the ability to 'zap' memories
Read nowWipe out: Can you remove memories?Article
Level: 1 Introductory
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Public health and mental health promotion
In this free course, Public health and mental health promotion, you will examine public health from a mental health perspective, beginning with an exploration of the relationship between public health and mental health. Mental health promotion is concerned with achieving positive mental health and quality of life.
Learn morePublic health and mental health promotionFree course
6 hours
Level: 2 Intermediate
Week two
In week two you learn about two aspects of civilian war experiences, atrocities committed against civilians and the experience of hunger on the home front.
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War memorials and commemoration
This free course, War memorials and commemoration, gives you the opportunity to practise good study techniques using the theme of commemoration and memorials. It will help you to begin to think about how form influences meaning in the arts and how ideas influence approaches to the humanities.
Learn moreWar memorials and commemorationFree course
4 hours
Level: 1 Introductory
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Copyright: wallyg under CC-BY-NC-ND licence
Making sense of sudden mass deaths
Sudden, brutal death; and so many deaths, at one time. What does it do to you to be one of the bereaved in such a traumatic event such as the 9/11 attacks or a pandemic like Covid-19?
Read nowMaking sense of sudden mass deathsArticle
Level: 1 Introductory
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Living with death and dying
This free course, Living with death and dying, explores how knowledge of and beliefs about death and encounters with death affect people's lives. It will also examine the concept of a 'good death' from an individual perspective in order to enhance the quality of dying.
Learn moreLiving with death and dyingFree course
4 hours
Level: 1 Introductory
Week one
In week one you encounter some of the physical and mental trauma suffered by those who fought in the First World War
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Understanding the body's response to injury, and the development of trauma centres
How the body responds to physical injury, and the development of specialist centres that treat major trauma victims.
Read nowUnderstanding the body's response to injury, and the development of trauma centresArticle
Level: 1 Introductory
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Challenging ideas in mental health
Take a new and different look at mental health. This free course, Challenging ideas in mental health, invites you to think differently about life's dilemmas by taking account of the views of all concerned, especially people experiencing mental distress. It explores ideas and practice in mental health, and will appeal to a wide range of people.
Learn moreChallenging ideas in mental healthFree course
18 hours
Level: 2 Intermediate
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The Open University under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 license
Britain's Great War: Download your free 'The First World War Experienced' booklet
From casualties to commemoration, explore the realities of war with this free booklet.
Read nowBritain's Great War: Download your free 'The First World War Experienced' bookletArticle
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