Course
Discontinued
No
Course code
HCSW 1170
Descriptive
Concepts for Mental Health Practice II
Department
Mental Health and Personal Support Work
Faculty
Health Sciences
Credits
3.00
Start date
End term
201920
PLAR
No
Semester length
8
Max class size
32
Contact hours
60 hours per semester
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Learning activities
- Lecture
- Case studies
- Group activities
- Internet and video
- Guest Speakers
- May include community service learning and/or participation in community based research projects when available.
Course description
This focus of this course will introduce the learner to the role of the Community Mental Health Worker (CMHW) in the delivery of mental health services. The Mental Health Act (MHA), ethical issues, and the history of mental illness will be discussed. In this course, there is a focus on the various concepts related to common mental health issues, including neurobiology, the DSM-IV-TR, various mental disorders, treatment modalities, and addictions. Assessment tools will also be discussed as well as intervention techniques.
Course content
- Mental Health Act and current legislation including: FOIPPA, Adult Guardianship, Public Trustee, Ombudsman, and Best Practices
- Neurobiological theories, neurotransmitters, and brain abnormalities in relation to mental health issues
- DSM-IV-TR; 5-axis diagnosis; GAF Scale (Axis V); Psychosocial problems/issues (Axis IV)
- Diagnostic criteria, signs/symptoms/presentation/characteristics, interventions/treatments for the following categories of mental disorders:
- Schizophrenia
- Mood Disorders
- Anxiety, Somatoform, and Dissociative Disorders
- Personality Disorders
- Eating Disorders
- Sexual Disorders
- Co-Occurrent Disorders
- Diagnostic criteria, signs/symptoms/presentation/characteristics, interventions/treatments for the following categories of child and adolescent mental disorders:
- Learning and Developmental Disorders
- Behaviour Disorders
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
- Early Psychosis
- Addictions, drugs, and concurrent disorders: definitions, types, dependence, abuse, and harm reduction versus abstinence
- Cycle of abuse, types of abuse (sexual, physical, emotional, neglect), denial, resistance, poverty
- Introduction to psychotropic medications and the role of the CMHW
- Cultural factors and beliefs related to mental health issues, assessment, and treatment
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of this course the learner will be able to:
- Understand and recognize the significance of the Mental Health Act (MHA) and other relevant legislation in providing services to individuals with mental health issues
- Demonstrate basic knowledge concerning neurobiology with regards to mental health concerns
- Understand the multi-axial diagnostic system and the use of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition, text revision (DSM-IV-TR)
- Understand the prevalence, etiology, diagnostic criteria, and treatments for the following categories of mental disorders:
- Schizophrenia
- Mood Disorders
- Anxiety, Somatoform, and Dissociative Disorders
- Personality Disorders
- Eating Disorders
- Sexual Disorders
- Co-Occurrent Disorders
- Understand the prevalence, etiology, diagnostic criteria, and treatments for child and adolescent disorders including:
- Learning and Developmental Disorders
- Behaviour Disorders
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
- Early Psychosis (including the Early Psychosis Intervention Program, EPI)
- Understand the diagnosis, treatments, and rehabilitations for addictions and concurrent disorders
- Understand the impact of anger, aggression, abuse, and violence related to physical and mental health
- Demonstrate basic knowledge of psychotropic medications in treating symptoms of mental disorders, and related side effects and outcomes
- Understand the implications of cultural diversity
Means of assessment
Course evaluation is consistent with Douglas College course evaluation policy. An evaluation schedule is presented at the beginning of the course.
This is a graded course and a minimum requirement for successful completion of the course is 65%. An evaluation schedule will be presented at the beginning of the course.
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.
Prerequisites
Which prerequisite