SH6051 - Understanding Mental Health (2017/18)
Module specification | Module approved to run in 2017/18 | ||||||||
Module status | DELETED (This module is no longer running) | ||||||||
Module title | Understanding Mental Health | ||||||||
Module level | Honours (06) | ||||||||
Credit rating for module | 15 | ||||||||
School | School of Social Professions | ||||||||
Total study hours | 150 | ||||||||
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Assessment components |
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Running in 2017/18(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) | No instances running in the year |
Module summary
The module takes a life course perspective to consider what is mental health in infancy, childhood, adolescence, adult life and old age, and what are the main threats to mental health at each stage, and what services and support exist to help those with marked problems. Students choose to explore a particular type of problem at a particular life stage in more depth, and gain feedback from a formative assessment in seminars to support the 3,000 word essay required in week 15.
Module aims
The module aims to build a good understanding of the types of bio-psycho-social factors which lie behind the development of mental ill-health, and to understand the contributions to health that run through the life course. The aims are also to develop insight and empathy into the experience of symptoms by choosing a particular type of problem at a particular life stage on which to do more detailed analysis. Finally, the students should gain good knowledge of the types of support that might help at various life stages, the key role played by close others, where they might gain professional help, and what are the main therapeutic approaches and how recovery and wellbeing may be promoted.
Syllabus
Mental health, illness and wellbeing - myths and misconceptions; conceptual shifts in understanding
A life course perspective – how adult mental health is shaped from before birth
Secure foundations – mental health in childhood, parenting matters
Conduct and emotional problems in children
Troubled adolescents – alcohol anddrug misuse, teenage pregnancy, violence, depression, self harm and suicide
Exploring experience
Adult mental ill-health – symptoms, diagnoses, main types of treatment – common disorders
Adult mental ill-health – serious and enduring problems, treatment and recovery
Mental ill-health in old age
A spectrum of care – what support do people want and need, what is commonly provided, and by whom?
Promoting mental health and wellbeing
Learning and teaching
The early weeks will define and challenge the ideas about what constitute mental health and wellbeing and what constitutes mental ill-health. Insights will be gainedfrom the perspective of those with experience of mental ill-health. A novel and website blogs will provide some of the background. Students will be required to work in small groups to provide peer feedback throughout the module. Students will select and partly construct a case study for analysis to inform the final essay.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module students will be able to:
1. Explain what is meant by the terms mental health, wellbeing and mental ill-health drawing on evidence
2. Analysea case study in order todemonstrate empathy and insight into the experience of those with a particular type of mental health problem at a particular life stage
3. Debate the value of differing types of support to people with a particular type of mental health problem
4. Discuss the relative merits of different types ofprofessional help available to people with particular mental ill-health challenges
Assessment strategy
The case study will relate to a particular condition and age group. Students will present their initial ideas on the case studies supplied in week 4. Each student will select a case study and partly construct it in order to draw on it for analysis thereby informing the final essay. They will develop their case studies up to week 8 when they will be subject to final peer review in week 9. There will also be a quiz around week 11 to check understanding of some of the factual content of the module, which will also help their preparation for the final assignment. The summative assessment is a 3,000 word essay building on the case study developed and is intended to test conceptual understanding drawing on evidence and the case study relate that to the experiences of those who have experienced mental ill health.
Bibliography
Craig, T.K. & Boardman, A.P. (1997) ABC of mental health: Common mental health problems in primary care BMJ 314: 1609 http://www.bmj.com/content/314/7094/1609.full
Goldberg D & Huxley P (1992): Common Mental Disorders: A Biosocial model. London: Routledge
Hale AS (1997): ABC of mental health: Depression BMJ 315: 43-46.
http://www.bmj.com/content/315/7099/43.full
Hale AS (1997): ABC of mental health: Anxiety BMJ 314: 1886. http://www.bmj.com/content/314/7098/1886.full
Heller, T. et al (eds,1996) Mental Health Matters: a reader. Macmillan
Newton, J. (2007) Mental Health and Mental Illness, chapt16 in Adams, R. (ed) Foundations of Health and Social Care. London: Palgrave
OECD (2009) Doing Better for Children www.oecd.org/els/social/childwellbeing chapter 2
Read, J. & Reynolds, J. (eds) (1996) Speaking our minds: an anthology of personal experiences of mental distress and its consequences. London: Macmillan
Redfield-James, K. (1997) An Unquiet Mind London: Macmillan
Seligman, M.E.P. (2002) Authentic Happiness. New York: Free Press
Singleton, N. et al (2001) Psychiatric morbidity among adults living in private households, 2000. Office for National statistics. HMSO
Turner, T. (1997) ABC of mental health: Schizophrenia BMJ 315: 108 http://www.bmj.com/content/315/7100/108.full