| Semester 1, 2023 Online | |
| Units : | 1 |
| School or Department : | School of Psychology and Wellbeing |
| Grading basis : | Graded |
| Course fee schedule : | /current-students/administration/fees/fee-schedules |
Staffing
Course Coordinator: Christine Chinchen
Requisites
Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH
Overview
Mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression, are predicted to be the main health issues facing Australians in coming years, according to the World Health Organisation. Understanding the context in which mental health conditions present in society, and the services established to provide treatment, are vital for mental health professionals. This is particularly relevant when professionals are required to work in multi-disciplinary teams. This course will address the professional issues involved in working with mental health clients.
This course aims to contextualise mental health practice in historical and geographic terms. It introduces students to the theories, legislation, policies and standards that underpin mental health practice in Australia. Students will also gain an understanding of the rights of mental health consumers and their carers, and how to optimise the participation of consumers in the services developed for their care and support. This course seeks to assist counselling practitioners wanting to work in the mental health sector, by developing their knowledge and understanding of the factors that govern the scope of practice of mental health professionals. Students will examine their professional role within the context of transdisciplinary practice and current service delivery models and the evidence that supports such an approach.
Course learning outcomes
On completion of this course students should be able to:
- Reflect on their own diversity, and how that influences their approach to mental health and illness
- Articulate integrated knowledge of the historical development of mental health and illness, including Australian and global perspectives
- Critically discuss the relevant theoretical, legal and ethical frameworks in which mental health practice is conducted
- Articulate an Advanced and synthesised knowledge of the rights of people with mental health issues and their carers, and ways to promote access to and participation in services provided for the care of these mental health consumers
- Critically analyse the principles of inter-professional practice in mental health service provision, and the contribution of each professional group to effective service provision
- Critically evaluate the mental health services available in the student鈥檚 own community
Topics
| Description | Weighting(%) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Society, Mental Health and Illness | 10.00 |
| 2. | A consumer perspective to mental distress | 10.00 |
| 3. | The global perspective on mental health | 10.00 |
| 4. | Delivering mental health care | 10.00 |
| 5. | Mental health services in Australia | 10.00 |
| 6. | Mental health services in the Australian States and Territories | 10.00 |
| 7. | Mental disorder in Australia | 10.00 |
| 8. | The participants in mental health services | 10.00 |
| 9. | Working collaboratively | 10.00 |
| 10. | Research in mental disorders and mental health practice | 5.00 |
| 11. | Evaluation and the concept of quality in mental health care | 5.00 |
Text and materials required to be purchased or accessed
Student workload expectations
To do well in this subject, students are expected to commit approximately 10 hours per week including class contact hours, independent study, and all assessment tasks. If you are undertaking additional activities, which may include placements and residential schools, the weekly workload hours may vary.
Assessment details
| Description | Group Assessment |
Weighting (%) | Course learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reflection (personal/clinical) | No | 30 | 1 |
| Critique (written) | No | 40 | 2,3,6 |
| Essay | No | 30 | 4,5 |