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Unit of Study CMM00002 - Models of Mental Health and Mental Illness (2015)

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Unit Snapshot

  • Enrolment information

    N/A

Unit description

Enables mental health practitioners to carefully analyse the validity of models of mental health and illness by reviewing and critiquing the relevant literature. In particular, students will be required to evaluate the assumptions on which their practice is based. The unit will also provide an examination and analysis of the most important models of mental disorder, or ways we think about mental disorders, in order to understand the development and current state of public attitudes towards people suffering from a mental disorder.

Unit content

The unit consists of six broad topics. 
Topic 1 provides introductory comments, notes on expectations, content, aims and objectives. 
Topic 2 introduces you to the process of reflection. 
Topic 3 provides you with an introduction to the major models of understanding mental disorders within our society. 
Topic 4 provides an introduction to the process of assessment and diagnosis in mental health care in particular the use of diagnostic manuals, and the interpretation of assessment. 
Topic 5 provides an overview of the major mental disorders, the dominant models used to explain these disorders and models of intervention. 
Topic 6 introduces you to the somatic therapies that are used to treat mental disorders, particularly psychopharmacology, ECT and psychosurgery. The major psychotropic medications are described in this topic. Comments and a critique of the somatic therapies is provided.

Availabilities

Not currently available in 2015

Learning outcomes and graduate attributes

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:

GA1: Intellectual rigour, GA2: Creativity, GA3: Ethical practice, GA4: Knowledge of a discipline, GA5: Lifelong learning, GA6: Communication and social skills, GA7: Cultural competence
Learning outcome count Learning outcome description GA1 GA2 GA3 GA4 GA5 GA6 GA7
1 analyse, critique and evaluate the extant literature on models of mental health and relate these to the provision of mental health services
2 determine the ways in which models of mental health and illness affect the administration and organisation of mental health care
3 appraise emerging concepts and models of mental health, mental illness and mental healthcare provision
4 critically review applications of models of mental health to various mental disorders
5 critically evaluate models that underpin mental healthcare practice by a range of mental health professionals
6 reflect on existing practice in the light of the validity of models that drive mental health best practice.

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

  1. analyse, critique and evaluate the extant literature on models of mental health and relate these to the provision of mental health services
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
    • GA5:
  2. determine the ways in which models of mental health and illness affect the administration and organisation of mental health care
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
  3. appraise emerging concepts and models of mental health, mental illness and mental healthcare provision
    • GA5:
  4. critically review applications of models of mental health to various mental disorders
    • GA1:
    • GA2:
  5. critically evaluate models that underpin mental healthcare practice by a range of mental health professionals
    • GA3:
    • GA6:
  6. reflect on existing practice in the light of the validity of models that drive mental health best practice.
    • GA2:
    • GA5: