1. Home
  2. Social Work and Mental Health [SWK3113]

Faculty of Regional Professional Studies (Bunbury)

School: Regional Professional Studies

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Social Work and Mental Health

  • Unit Code

    SWK3113

  • Year

    2015

  • Enrolment Period

    1

  • Version

    1

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online

Description

The unit explores mental health in Australian society within a social determinants of health framework. The unit will cover the classification of psychiatric conditions and examine competing explanatory models for mental illness.

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded SWK3120

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Critically analyse the key debates in the mental health field.
  2. Critically assess the effectiveness of treatment models.
  3. Discuss the socio-political construction of mental health.
  4. Understand the nature and extent of mental illness in Australia.

Unit Content

  1. Classifications of psychiatric disorders.
  2. Co-morbidity and social work practice.
  3. Cultural, social and historical views of mental illness.
  4. Discourses and definitions of mental illness.
  5. Intercultural understandings of mental health.
  6. Models of prevention and intervention for mental illness.
  7. Physiological and psychosocial theories of intervention.
  8. Social determinants of health framework.
  9. Spirituality and mental health.
  10. The contemporary context of mental health services.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Interactive lectures, tutorials and online discussion.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
ReportReport30%
TestOn-line Test30%
ProjectTeam work and tool for service users40%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
ReportReport30%
TestOn-line Test30%
ProjectTool for service users40%

Text References

  • ^ Bland, R., Renouf, N. & Tullgren, A. (2015). Social work practice in mental health - An introduction (2nd ed). Crow's Nest, NSW: Allen & Unwin.
  • Pritchard, C. (2006). Mental health social work: Evidence-based practice. Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.
  • Ramsey, R., Gerada, C., Mars, S. & Szmukler, G. (Eds.). (2001). Mental Illness: A handbook for carers. London & Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
  • Mental Health Council of Australia, (2005). Not for Service: Experiences of injustice and despair in mental health in Australia. A report of the Consultations by the Mental Health Council of Australia and the Brain and Mind Research Institute in association with the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. Deakin West: M.H.C.A.
  • Davies, J. (2003). A manual for mental health care in general practice. Canberra: Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Branch, Commonwealth Dept. of Health & Ageing.
  • Burdiken, B. (1993). Human rights and mental illness: Report of the national inquiry into the human rights of people with mental illness. Canberra: AGPS.
  • Bentley, K. (Ed.). (2002). Social work practice in mental health: Contemporary roles, tasks and techniques. Pacific Grove: Brookes/Cole Thompson Learning.

Journal References

  • Mental Health in Australia
  • Mental Health Review Journal
  • Mental Health and Social Inclusion
  • Behavioural Health Treatment

Website References

^ Mandatory reference

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

SWK3113|1|1

Faculty of Regional Professional Studies (Bunbury)

School: Regional Professional Studies

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Social Work and Mental Health

  • Unit Code

    SWK3113

  • Year

    2015

  • Enrolment Period

    2

  • Version

    1

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online

Description

The unit explores mental health in Australian society within a social determinants of health framework. The unit will cover the classification of psychiatric conditions and examine competing explanatory models for mental illness.

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded SWK3120

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Critically analyse the key debates in the mental health field.
  2. Critically assess the effectiveness of treatment models.
  3. Discuss the socio-political construction of mental health.
  4. Understand the nature and extent of mental illness in Australia.

Unit Content

  1. Classifications of psychiatric disorders.
  2. Co-morbidity and social work practice.
  3. Cultural, social and historical views of mental illness.
  4. Discourses and definitions of mental illness.
  5. Intercultural understandings of mental health.
  6. Models of prevention and intervention for mental illness.
  7. Physiological and psychosocial theories of intervention.
  8. Social determinants of health framework.
  9. Spirituality and mental health.
  10. The contemporary context of mental health services.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Interactive lectures, tutorials and online discussion.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
ReportReport30%
TestOn-line Test30%
ProjectTeam work and tool for service users40%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
ReportReport30%
TestOn-line Test30%
ProjectTool for service users40%

Text References

  • ^ Bland, R., Renouf, N. & Tullgren, A. (2015). Social work practice in mental health - An introduction (2nd ed). Crow's Nest, NSW: Allen & Unwin.
  • Pritchard, C. (2006). Mental health social work: Evidence-based practice. Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.
  • Ramsey, R., Gerada, C., Mars, S. & Szmukler, G. (Eds.). (2001). Mental Illness: A handbook for carers. London & Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
  • Mental Health Council of Australia, (2005). Not for Service: Experiences of injustice and despair in mental health in Australia. A report of the Consultations by the Mental Health Council of Australia and the Brain and Mind Research Institute in association with the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. Deakin West: M.H.C.A.
  • Davies, J. (2003). A manual for mental health care in general practice. Canberra: Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Branch, Commonwealth Dept. of Health & Ageing.
  • Burdiken, B. (1993). Human rights and mental illness: Report of the national inquiry into the human rights of people with mental illness. Canberra: AGPS.
  • Bentley, K. (Ed.). (2002). Social work practice in mental health: Contemporary roles, tasks and techniques. Pacific Grove: Brookes/Cole Thompson Learning.

Journal References

  • Mental Health in Australia
  • Mental Health Review Journal
  • Mental Health and Social Inclusion
  • Behavioural Health Treatment

Website References

^ Mandatory reference

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

SWK3113|1|2