Community Practice: Mental Health for the Youth Justice Worker

The primary objective is to present students with a broad range of information and concepts that will lead to a broader knowledge of Mental Health / Mental Illness issues as they relate to the youth that they will be working with. The course will also offer significant opportunities to apply this information to enable students to integrate this knowledge to their practice.

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

A. Knowledge of Mental Health/Illness

1. demonstrate an understanding of past and present social attitudes towards mental illness and an ability to challenge popular but incorrect beliefs regarding mental illness
2. demonstrate an understanding of assessing the presence/absence of mental health/illness
3. describe techniques for working with youth with mental disorders
4. describe techniques for working with the families of youth with mental disorders.
5. demonstrate an understanding of the types of mental illness (medical, psychological, social/environmental) and an appreciation for the resultant treatment approaches (biological, psychotherapeutic, preventative)
6. demonstrate an understanding of the DSM-IV diagnostic system and the benefits/liabilities of labeling persons with specific diagnoses
7. demonstrate an understanding of the key characteristics of some types of mental illness, (i.e., child and youth disorders, anxiety disorders, post traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, bipolar disorder, depression, personality disorders, schizophrenia); an appreciation for predictive risk factors; an understanding for a disorder’s impact on the individual, family and society; and knowledge of past and current treatment approaches
8. demonstrate understanding of the cultural variables associated with mental disorders
9. demonstrate knowledge of the predictors of suicide risk and prevention strategies
10. demonstrate awareness of major medications for specific disorders and their side effects (e.g., anti-anxiety, anti-psychotic, anti-depressant and anti-manic medications)

B. Knowledge of the Mental Health System

1. demonstrate knowledge of the system of mental health services in Canada and B.C., including forensic services, hospitals, emergency/crisis services, services or persons with mental handicaps, community based psychosocial rehabilitation programs, clubhouses, etc.
2. demonstrate knowledge of the role of the youth justice worker as well as the roles of other professionals (e.g., psychiatrists, family physicians, psychologists, social workers, social service workers, nurses, occupational therapists, counsellors, rehabilitation workers) who work in the mental health system
3. demonstrate a working knowledge of relevant mental health legislation in British Columbia and an understanding of legal issues which could impact future legislative changes
4. demonstrate a basic appreciation for the current consumer and family empowerment initiative and their impact on service delivery
5. demonstrate a basic appreciation for current and future directions in mental health policy and planning issues