WS4503:04
Social Work and Mental Health
Townsville, Cairns
Prerequisites: WS3511
26 colloquia, 24 hours workshops or the equivalent in mixed mode on-campus delivery. First semester and flexible delivery.
Staff: Mr L Bainbridge (Townsville campus).
An overview of the social and cultural determinants of mental health; mental health legislation and social policy applications, especially in relation to deinstitutionalisation, community care and consumer advocacy groups; power and gender issues in mental health practice; and the development of personal practice models in mental health work compatible with social work values and knowledge and the pursuit of social justice goals.
Learning Objectives:
- an awareness of the social construction of mental health in cultural, community and individual contexts;
- understand the social justice and human rights implications of mental health legislation and practice;
- be conversant with the knowledge and value bases of the professional disciplines involved in mental health practice to the point where students are comfortable working in multi-disciplinary teams and confident of making a specific social work contribution;
- develop of a personal philosophy of practice in relation to mental health work applicable to a wide range of agency settings and client groups and to the formation of partnerships with mental health consumers and carers.
Assessment by workshop presentation and participation (50%); written project/assignment (50%).