Mental Health and Young People

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Objectives, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.
It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty
Student Adviser and the Disability Liaison Unit: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This subject introduces conceptual frameworks for understanding mental health in young people and the importance of social contexts for mental health. The subject analyses the emotional dimensions of mental health and assists professionals to recognise emotional distress of a young person and ways that it can be manifested. The subject includes a skill-building component to allow professionals to work with young people within professional boundaries and accountabilities and gain an understanding of when and how to refer.

This subject is designed to enable students to:

• recognise cultural diversity in understanding mental health;
• examine epidemiology of mental health disorders in young people;
• describe conceptual frameworks for understanding mental health in young people;
• recognise the dimensions of emotional stress, how it is displayed and how it is linked to thought patterns, feelings and physical health;
• awareness of professional boundaries and assumptions that professionals bring to the context.

• Hurdle Requirement (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory) : Introductory Learning Activity (Max: 500 words)
• 40% : Analysis of Motivational Interviewing Strategies (Max: 2,000 words) - Due mid semester
• 60% : Written Assignment (Max: 2,500 words) - Due end of semester
  
  

N/A

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

This subject is designed to enable students to:

• recognise cultural diversity in understanding mental health;
• examine epidemiology of mental health disorders in young people;
• describe conceptual frameworks for understanding mental health in young people;
• recognise the dimensions of emotional stress, how it is displayed and how it is linked to thought patterns, feelings and physical health;
• awareness of professional boundaries and assumptions that professionals bring to the context.

On completion of this subject it is expected that students will be able to:

• develop a repertoire of strategies to engage young people and families using motivational interviewing techniques;
• assess the situational context to identify risk and resilience factors in a young person's life;
• observe behaviours and recognise how they link to emotional distress;
• develop approaches to ensuring confidentiality, appropriate referral, and risk management.