Mental Health in Primary Care

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

This subject is delivered by distance education with a one day face-to-face workshop on campus.

Students undertaking this subject via the Community Access Program (CAP) must provide all the following supporting documents when applying.

• Evidence of National Division 1 Registration
• Certified copies of academic transcript from undergraduate degree.
• Evidence of at least one year professional experience in a clinical setting (the provision of a CV is not sufficient; an example of valid evidence is a letter of reference or an employment contract).

170 hours

Students are required to have access to a computer with e-mail application and a web browser. Technical support is not available from the University of Melbourne in setting up such a system.

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 will overview common mental health issues that present in primary care and treatment options for example for depression and anxiety disorders. It will utilise a patient centred approach to the primary care mental health consultation and will further develop active listening skills. It will also address specific issues that may arise in the consultation for example breaking bad news, responding to disclosure of sensitive matters, and self help for depression and anxiety issues.

All subject materials and readings are delivered online.

At the completion of this subject students should be able to:

• Discuss common presentations and treatment options of high prevalence mental health issues in primary care
• Demonstrate an advanced level of communication and consulting skills that enhance satisfaction and clinical outcomes for patients presenting with common mental health issues
• Engender a patient centred approach and shared understanding with patients with psychosocial issues
• Understand the role of community resources and self help for managing mental health issues

• Workshop attendance 8 hours mid semester (pass/fail hurdle requirement)
• Essay equivalent to 1000 words due mid semester (20%)
• 20 minute communication skills assessment equivalent to 1000 words due end of semester (30%)
• Two 20 minute patient interviews equivalent to 2000 words due end of semester (50%)
• Participation in online reflective tasks equivalent to 1000 words, due end of semester (pass/fail hurdle requirement). In order to pass this hurdle requirement students must demonstrate that they have read and understood the materials related to the tasks and can apply the principals and evidence based guidelines to the context in which they work.

Students must achieve a cumulative mark of at least 50% and a pass in the hurdle requirements in order to pass the subject.

Nil

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

At the completion of this subject, students should be able to demonstrate:

• Further enhanced oral and written skills
• Further enhanced clinical skills

Students undertaking this subject via the Community Access Program (CAP) must provide all the following supporting documents when applying:

• Evidence of National Division 1 Registration
• Certified copies of academic transcript from undergraduate degree.
• Evidence of at least one year professional experience in a clinical setting (the provision of a CV is not sufficient; an example of valid evidence is a letter of reference or an employment contract).