Graduate Diploma in Youth Mental Health

The course is directed toward those who wish to acquire the skills necessary to remain at the forefront of preventive psychiatry in young people's mental health during the onset phase of serious mental illness, both within Australia and internationally. Spanning the 'youth' developmental phase from 14 to 25 years, the course actively integrates a developmental perspective with an emphasis on early detection, intensive intervention and secondary prevention across a range of serious mental illnesses including early psychosis, eating disorders, and depression.

By the conclusion of the graduate diploma students will have developed the following areas of knowledge:

• The major theories of development spanning the transition from adolescence to adulthood
• Recent advances in the preventative models of psychiatry as applicable to young people
• Recent advances in the biological assessment and treatment of serious mental illness in young people
• Optimal organisation and management approaches for the provision of services to young clients with serious mental illness

In addition, students will be able to apply the following skills in working with young people:

• Design community awareness interventions focusing upon early detection and referral of young people to mental health services
• Assess the early signs of a range of serious mental illnesses in young people
• Design comprehensive treatment plans which are applicable to the early stages of serious mental illness and sensitive to the developmental tasks facing young clients of mental health services
• Apply psychosocial interventions in the treatment of primary and secondary morbidity across a range of serious mental illessesses affecting young people and their families
• Match optimal approaches to the treatment of young people to impatient, community-based and home-based approaches

Students must successfully complete all eight core subjects to obtain the Graduate Diploma.

Core Subjects

Degree in psychiatry, medicine, psychology, nursing, social work, occupational therapy or other related disciplines.

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 course are articulated in the Course Overview, Objectives 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 course are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and the Disability Liaison Unit: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This course provides professional development for practitioners who are currently working with young people who have the intention of pursuing a career in youth mental health practice.

The program is recognized by professional bodies, e.g., Australian Association of Social Workers, Australian Psychological Society, Royal College of Nursing, and Australian College of Mental Health Nurses as fulfilling professional development (continuing education) requirements.