UM-NUS Mental Health Across the Lifespan

This subject is not offered in 2016.

85 hours

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, 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 Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

The objective of this subject is for students to develop an understanding of mental health across different stages of the lifespan, from infancy through to older adulthood, with a particular focus on older age given the ageing population in Singapore and the pressing government-identified need for more support and services for the elderly. Two seminars will cover infancy, childhood, and adolescence focusing on developmental tasks of infancy, childhood and adolescence and their relationship to common presenting mental health, emotional and behavioural difficulties during this developmental period, the parent-child relationship and implications of better understanding development for engagement of children and families The remaining 5 lectures will address topics of clinical relevance to older adults. These will include life transitions, typical development and cognitive change in later life, theoretical models of ageing, models for psychological intervention with older adults and how intervention might be modified in light of maturational and contextual variables, and psychological intervention in people with dementia and their families.

To provide students with an opportunity to:

• Gain an understanding of mental health issues pertinent to different stages of the lifespan, with a focus on older age
• Develop the skills necessary to critically evaluate theoretical approaches to assessment and intervention at these different life stages, and to select the most appropriate and evidence-based interventions
• Develop sensitivity and appreciation of the role of development in providing appropriate clinical assessment and intervention services to individuals and families at different developmental stages

• A small group presentation (15 mins) in class on a particular topic relevant to older age to be decided between the lecturer and the students, delivered mid-semester (Week 6) (30%)
• A written assignment of 3000-4000 words based on case material provided in class and related to work with older adults; due end-of-semester (Week 12) (70%)

Hurdle requirement: Attendance at class is compulsory and an attendance rate of 80% or above is required for satisfactory completion of the subject.

Subject has a pass/fail outcome: to acheive a pass overall for the subject, both assessment tasks need to be passed individually.

None required

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

1. Advanced information interpretations skills
2. Advanced analytic, integration and problem solving skills