Unit of Study MHNS5001 Contemporary Mental Health (2025)

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Unit Snapshot

Unit type

PG Coursework Unit
Credit points

12
Faculty & College

Faculty of Health
Placement

No

Unit description

Exposes learners to a critical exploration and practical application of the core contexts of mental health within the Australian health care systems. Contemporary policy issues, core professional values, the self within therapeutic relationships, foundational skills within mental health professional clinical practice that build toward collaborative recovery and evidence-based mental health practice will be covered.

Unit content

The history of mental health services, social movements and psychiatric critique
The politicisation of mental health and the development of policy
An examination of the medical model in contrast with other non orthodox approaches to care such as open dialogue
The concept mental health recovery
Emotional intelligence, empathy and compassion as foundations for effective helping
The therapeutic relationship or alliance
Emotional intelligence, empathy and compassion
Formulation as a means of explaining mental health problems
Bio-psycho-social-spiritual assessment and formulation
Clinical supervision and reflective practice

Availabilities

Location	Domestic	International
SCU Online	Summer Term Term4	Summer Term Term4

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

analyse and critique the dominant discourses and models of mental health and illness and how these and other formative influences have shaped mental health policy, legislation, professional standards, influenced mental health practice and the experience of care

critically review the concept of the therapeutic alliance or relationship, its essential elements, how it can be developed and maintained, and argue its importance in contributing to collaboratively negotiated outcomes with service users

critically explore the concepts of empathy, compassion and emotional intelligence in the provision of mental health care and how these can be sustained and developed through reflective practice and clinical supervision in order to improve mental health outcomes

construct a clinical / case formulation drawing on psychotherapeutic theory, extant research and clinical reasoning which effectively addresses the holistic needs of the individual and families

Teaching and assessment

Teaching method

Structured online learning 6 weeks (Self paced)

Assessment
Discussion board	10%
Critical review	50%
Essay	40%

Prescribed learning resources

Prescribed Texts

No prescribed texts.

Prescribed Resources/Equipment

No prescribed resources/equipment.

Prescribed Texts

Prescribed text information is not currently available.

Prescribed Resources/Equipment

Prescribed resources/equipment information is not currently available.

Prescribed Learning Resources may change in future Teaching Periods.

Fee information

Domestic

Commonwealth Supported courses
For information regarding Student Contribution Amounts please visit the Student Contribution Amounts.

Fee paying courses
For postgraduate or undergraduate full-fee paying courses please check Domestic Postgraduate Fees OR Domestic Undergraduate Fees.

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