Lecture: 60 hours
In this course, students engage in a variety of learning activities such as lecture, group work, case studies, and team-based exercises.
• Mental health initiatives
o Provincial
o National
o Global
• Vulnerability
o Advocacy
o Marginalization
o Stigma
o Discrimination
o Cultural safety and humility
o Respect
o Recovery
o Hope
o Resilience
o Health literacy
• Vulnerable populations
o Mental health challenges (chronic/persistent and acute)
o Substance use disorders
o Harm reduction
o Homelessness
o Poverty
o Indigenous Peoples
o Sexual orientation, sexual identity, gender identity, diversity, and inclusion
o Violence and abuse
o Refugees and immigrants
• Professional roles and responsibilities
o Prevention
o Living with health challenges
o Recovery
o Client-centered care
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
1. Implement various approaches to understanding and responding to substance use and addiction;
2. Demonstrate appropriate screening for substance use and care planning for clients with substance use and addiction in clinical practice;
3. Describe common signs of withdrawal and/or physical dependence related to opioids, alcohol, and tobacco and utilize related assessment tools;
4. Identify potential harms that clients might experience when using substances and identify strategies to mitigate these harms;
5. Describe factors that contribute to overdose risk and apply interventions related to overdose prevention;
6. Implement the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required for safe, compassionate, and holistic care for vulnerable clients with common, predictable, and emerging mental health challenges and substance use disorders.
Assessment will be based on course objectives and will be carried out in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. An evaluation schedule is presented at the beginning of the course.
This course is a graded course, not a mastery course.
Textbooks and materials are to be purchased by students. A list of required textbooks and materials will be provided for students at the beginning of the semester.
Students in the MHSU program are required to maintain a passing grade of 65% (C+) in all courses to progress in the program.