BEHV 2008 Mental Health in the Community

This is an archived copy of the 2021-2022 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit https://hbook.westernsydney.edu.au.

Credit Points 10

Legacy Code 101594

Coordinator Rosemary Qummouh Opens in new window

Description Mental health service delivery in the community is now the main form of care for people across the lifespan living with mental and emotional disorders. The development of a wider range of pharmacological, psychological and psychosocial treatments has enabled many people to live productively in the community. This unit explores the changes in policy and practice in the development of integrated mental health care and the impact of these changes on the lives of people living with mental illness and their communities. Early intervention, resilience and recovery are concepts explored in this unit in terms of mental health and wellbeing.

School Social Sciences

Discipline Psychology

Student Contribution Band HECS Band 4 10cp

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Level Undergraduate Level 2 subject

Restrictions Students must be enrolled in 1665 Bachelor of Community Welfare, 1666 Bachelor of Social Work, 1709 Bachelor of Criminal and Community Justice, 1710 Bachelor of Criminology, 1713 Bachelor of Criminal and Community Justice/Bachelor of Social Work, 1734 Bachelor of Policing (Leadership Program), 1844 Bachelor of Policing, 2766 Bachelor of Criminology/Bachelor of Laws, 2767 Bachelor of Criminal and Community Justice/Bachelor of Laws, 6025 Diploma in Criminal and Community Justice/Bachelor of Criminal and Community Justice or 7170 Undergraduate Certificate in Counselling and Mental Health.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

Identify the theories and discourses underlying contemporary mental health care and treatment.
Understand major mental health disorders, and identify a range of interventions and management approaches.
Critically describe the significant policy changes and implications for mental health service delivery.
Recognise the presentation of mental illness and emotional disorders in clients in community settings.

Subject Content

1. Mental health: contemporary theory, policy and practice issues
2. Mental health literacy- understanding the diagnostic framework,; signs and symptoms of mental illness.
3. Indigenous social and emotional wellbeing
4. Cultural understandings of mental health and illness.
5. Navigating the mental health system
6. The lived experience of mental illness.
7. Interventions in mental health and illness
8. Advocacy and systemic change in mental health

Assessment

The following table summarises the standard assessment tasks for this subject. Please note this is a guide only. Assessment tasks are regularly updated, where there is a difference your Learning Guide takes precedence.

Item	Length	Percent	Threshold	Individual/Group Task
Reflection	2 x 250 words (10% each)	20	N	Individual
Quiz	FOUR online quizzes (weeks 5,6,7,9)	15	N	Individual
Essay	1,000 words	30	N	Individual
Case Study	1500 words	35	N	Individual

Prescribed Texts

Hungerford, C., Hodgson, D., Murphy, G., Clancy, R & Doyle, K. (2020) Mental Health Care: An Introduction for Health Professionals. 4th Edition. John Wiley & Sons Australia Ltd.

Teaching Periods