SOWK303-16S2 (C) Semester Two 2016

Mental Health

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 11 July 2016
End Date: Sunday, 13 November 2016
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Friday, 22 July 2016
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Friday, 7 October 2016

Description

An examination of the conceptual framework of mental health, mental ill-health and mental illness, and an introduction to the major classifications of mental illness. An analysis of social work's contribution to the field, and study of tested interventions with patients and support systems in mental health settings. Taught by staff with health expertise and practice experience.

This course is an integral part of social work education and may also be suitable for appropriately academically qualified students with an interest in other human services.  

The focus of the course is on mental health and ill health and the impact of mental disorder on individuals and families.  The course takes account of the social-ecological context of mental disorders and consequently considers issues around culture and gender, policy and service provision. The course is designed to build on student knowledge and prior studies in the area of human development and as such the influence of normal developmental processes and external crises will be considered.

Students are supported to achieve an understanding of how theory applies to practice via class discussions of case studies and documentary and fiction film materials. Each year, a number of professional practitioners are invited to deliver seminars in which they talk about their work in the field of mental health.

Learning Outcomes

On the successful completion of the course, the student will be able to competently demonstrate:
1.   Knowledge about major areas of mental disorder, including knowledge of diagnostic criteria
     and evidence based treatments.
2.   Awareness of the reciprocal impacts of these disorders on the individual, family and society.
3.   Awareness of the impact of inequality, oppression and stigma on mental health and illness.
4.   Knowledge about the relevance and applicability of mental health knowledge to social work
     practice in Aotearoa, and the contribution of social workers in this multidisciplinary field.
5.   Knowledge about local and culturally appropriate mental health practices, protocols, and
     expectations.
6.   Understanding of the potential impact of trauma work on the mental health of the worker and
     how this may be modulated.
7.   Advanced understanding of reflective participatory learning processes, and understanding of
     how these contribute to the theory practice matrix.
8.   Capacity to undertake literature reviews, and to assess the relevance of literature to topics
     under consideration.
9.   Capacity to engage in discussion and debates wherein they convey a growing capacity to
     hypothesise or develop theoretical questions from data and literature, and to relate these
     to practice.

Prerequisites

135 points from required SOWK and HSRV courses, and must meet the minimum requirements for Group B and Group C courses from the BSW degree. 90 points from Group B (elective courses). 15points from Group C (optional courses).

Restrictions

SOWK632

Timetable Note

This course is taught in semester two

*  One two hour lecture per week;  tutorials as required

*  LEARN based resources and activities

Course Coordinator / Lecturer

Kate van Heugten

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage  Description
Major Essay 19 Aug 2017 40% Due date to be advised
Reflective Learning 1 16 Sep 2016 30% Due date to be advised
Reflective Learning 2 14 Oct 2016 30% Due date to be advised

Textbooks / Resources

Required Texts

Kring, A.M.,, Johnson, S.L., Davison, G.C., & Neale, J.M; Abnormal Psychology ; 12th edition; New York: John Wiley and Sons, 2012.

Notes

The administrator for the Human Services and Social Work Department is Denise Forbes and she can be located in room 310 in the Psychology/Sociology Building.

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $717.00

International fee $2,913.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see Language, Social and Political Sciences .

All SOWK303 Occurrences

  • SOWK303-16S2 (C) Semester Two 2016