WS4503 - Social Work and Mental Health

Credit points:	03
Year:	2013
Student Contribution Band:	Band 1
Administered by:	School of Arts & Social Sciences

This subject offers an introduction to critical, theoretical and applied issues in relation to mental health practice. Providing an overview of mental health practice, this course emphasises social welfare practice, social justice and human rights approaches to mental health. The subject is interwoven with an intersectoral analysis, including gender, ethnicity and socioeconomic status.

Learning Outcomes

• understand conceptualisations of mental health and mental illness in relation to human rights and social justice;
• gain an overview of mental health legislation and the shaping of social policy in relation to mental health in Australia;
• be conversant with the knowledge base and values of professional disciplines involved in the delivery of mental health services in Australia (ICD 10, DMS IV, multi disciplinary teams, organisation of mental health services, alternative options for naming and responding to mental health issues.);
• integrate an understanding of mental health and mental illness with social work theories, skills and values and explore the application of social work practice frameworks with diverse social and cultural contexts;
• critically examine the ideas that inform the questions 'what is health?' 'what is mental health?' (including historical themes, medical models, sociological models, the social construction of madness, and the spectrum of interventions for mental health practice).

Graduate Qualities

• The ability to deploy critically evaluated information to practical ends;
• The ability to select and organise information and to communicate it accurately, cogently, coherently, creatively and ethically;
• The acquisition of coherent and disciplined sets of skills, knowledge, values and professional ethics from at least one discipline area;
• The ability to read complex and demanding texts accurately, critically and insightfully;
• The ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences;
• The ability to work with people of different gender, age, ethnicity, culture, religion and political persuasion.

Prerequisites:	WS3515 or WS3516
Inadmissible Subject Combinations:	WS5603

Availabilities
External, Study Period 1
Census Date 28-Mar-2013
Coord/Lect:	Dr Narayan Gopalkrishnan.
Contact hours:	10 hours - 10 hours of study required per week.
Method of Delivery:	WWW - LearnJCU
Assessment:	individual reflective practice statement (50%); assignments (50%).
Cairns, Internal, Study Period 1
Census Date 28-Mar-2013
Coord/Lect:	Dr Narayan Gopalkrishnan.
Contact hours:	39 hours workshops/Seminars
Assessment:	individual reflective practice statement (50%); assignments (50%).

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.