Concepts for Mental Health Practice

Overview

Course description

The course will introduce the learner to the theoretical underpinnings relevant to Community Mental Health Work (CMHW) and Health Care Support Work (HCSW) practice. Concepts related to common mental health challenges, including neurobiology, DSM-5 categories, behavioral manifestations of various mental health disorders including addictions and substance use disorders, as well as various treatment modalities will be presented. Assessment tools and intervention techniques will also be discussed.

Course content

Neurobiological theories, neurotransmitters, and brain abnormalities in relation to mental health challenges
DSM-5 diagnostic categories
Diagnostic criteria and behavioural manifestations (signs/symptoms/presentation/characteristics, interventions/treatments for the following categories of mental health disorders):

Schizophrenia
Mood Disorders
Anxiety, and Dissociative Disorders
Personality Disorders
Feeding and Eating Disorders
Co-occurring Disorders
Suicidal Behaviour Disorders
Non-suicidal Self-Injury Disorders

Diagnostic criteria and behavioural manifestations (signs/symptoms/presentation/characteristics, interventions/treatments for the following categories of child and adolescent mental health disorders):
- Learning and Developmental Disorders
- Behaviour Disorders
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
- Early Psychosis
Addictions and substance use disorders, dependency theories, treatments and interventions, definitions, types, and harm reduction versus abstinence
Aggression, violence and abuse theories, cycle of abuse, types of abuse (sexual, physical, emotional, neglect), denial, resistance, poverty
Introduction to psychotropic medications and relevance to CMHW practice
Alternative and complimentary therapies

Learning activities

CMHW/HCSW faculty facilitate student learning through a variety of learning activities which may include:

Case studies
Group activities
Group discussions
Computer assisted learning programs
Use of electronic resources
Use of audiovisual aids
Guest speakers

Means of assessment

Course evaluation is consistent with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. An evaluation schedule is presented at the beginning of the course.

This is a graded course.

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this course, successful students will be able to:

Demonstrate basic knowledge concerning neurobiology with regards to mental health concerns
Demonstrate an understanding of various assessment tools (MSE, Risk Assessment)
Understand the use of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition
Understand the prevalence, etiology, diagnostic criteria, and treatments for various categories of mental health disorders
Understand the diagnoses, behavioural manifestations, treatments, interventions and rehabilitation for addictions, substance use and co-occurring disorders
Understand the impact of anger, aggression, abuse, and violence related to the physical and mental health of individuals and families
Demonstrate basic knowledge of psychotropic medications in treating symptoms of mental disorders, and related side effects and outcomes
Demonstrate knowledge of alternative and complimentary therapies

Textbook materials

Textbooks and Materials to be Purchased by Students

A list of recommended materials is provided to students at the beginning of the semester.

Requisites

Prerequisites

Corequisites

HCSW 1155 and HCSW 1180 and HCSW 1190 and HCSW 1195 and HCSW 1200

Equivalencies

No equivalent courses.

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

September 2021 (Current)