MENK19HKI Mental Health and Wellbeing (5cr)

Content scheduling

Module 1: Concepts and approaches to mental health and well-being
Module 2: Mental health services and legislation
Module 3: Different cultural concepts of mental health
Module 4: Current issues in the treatment of mental health problems
Module 5: Taking action: Community-based approaches in mental health practice

Objective

The students will be able to
- use terminology and core concepts of mental health and wellbeing
- identify current issues in mental health in different contexts
- identify common types of mental health problems
- apply the mental health legislation
- know the different types of mental health services and how to refer service users to mental health services utilise community based approach in work with people with mental health issues
- identify on how cultural backgrounds effect to attitudes of mental health services

Content

Contents
- Concepts and approaches to mental health and wellbeing
- Mental health services and legislation
- Community based mental health services, mutual support organizations
- Community issues in the treatment of mental health problems
- Different cultural concepts of mental health

Materials

Coppock, V. & Dunn, B. 2010. Understanding social work practice in Mental Health. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage
Golightley, M. 2006. Social work and mental health. 2nd ed. Exeter: Learning matters.
Additional study materials will be announced during the orientation.

Teaching methods

Learning outcomes:
In this course, the students will be able to:
- use terminology and core concepts of mental health and wellbeing
- identify current issues in mental health in different contexts
- identify common types of mental health problems
- apply the mental health legislation
- know the different types of mental health services and how to refer service users to mental health services
- utilise community based approach in work with people with mental health issues
- identify on how cultural backgrounds effect to attitudes of mental health services
Planned learning activities and teaching methods: Lectures, workshops, learning assignments and mini-seminar.

Completion alternatives

The course will have three learning assignments:
1. Learning blog (written or video):
The goal of the learning blog is to help the students keep track of their learning process throughout the course. The students can reflect on what new understandings they have gained after every lecture or after reading some of the assigned readings.
2. Infographic
The aim of the infographic is to help the students understand the current legislations and mental health services available in different areas. Similarly, the students will have the opportunity to critically reflect on the Finnish mental health policies and legislation. Furthermore, the infographic will aid the students in communicating to their future clients the available mental health services in Finland.
3. Mini-seminar, 15.2.2018
This learning assignment will be incorporated in the final module (module 5), and will be organized on 15.2.2018. The objective is for the students to utilize community-based approaches in empowering communities on issues regarding mental health. The students will plan and organize a mini-seminar on a specific topic that was discussed in class.
The students will be given the choice if they would prefer to work with small groups or individually. Learning takes place through independent studying, reading group sessions, field visits and learning blog.

Student workload

Face-to-face lectures:
12.1.2018, 9:00 - 12:00 - Orientation and module 1
30.1.2018, 9:00 - 16:00 - Module 3 and 4
31.1.2018, 9:00 -16:00 -Module 5
15.2.2018, 9:00 - 16:00 - Seminar
Independent study
12.1.2018, 13 - 16:00 - Module 1