HLTH 4421: Assessment and Intervention Approaches to Mental Health Problems
Building on many of the concepts introduced in HLTH 4411: Introduction to Mental Health, students will focus on ways of supporting individuals and families and on the use of evidence-informed frameworks, tools and processes.
Learning outcomes
- Appreciate the ethical responsibilities required of professionals working with individuals with mental health problems and their families.
- Identify how to convey oneself in order to facilitate the recovery of those experiencing mental health issues including their families.
- Recognize signs of caregiver burnout and understand how to care for oneself.
- Appreciate and apply the skills and practices necessary to work in collaboration with other health professionals and service providers in a wide variety of settings.
- Identify and apply the core skills and practices in psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery models that support and respect the agency of individuals with mental health problems and their families.
- Recognize and be able to apply the issues of privacy and confidentiality, and optimize the sharing of information with other service providers and family members.
- Express how to interact with individuals and families in order to best obtain high quality assessment information in a therapeutic manner.
- Identify the core components of the mental health assessment, including mental status and physical examination.
- Appreciate the responsibilities of careful documentation of mental health assessments and treatment activities.
- Identify the core components of documentation of mental health assessments and treatment activities.
- Identify the core elements of a high quality care plan.
- Recognize the core practices required to ensure safety for all during a psychiatric emergency.
- Recognize the core practices in assessment and treatment of potentially aggressive behaviour.
- Identify the core practices in the assessment and treatment of suicidal ideation and behaviour.
- Identify the core components of assessment of individuals with:
- cognitive disturbances, including functional ability and safety
- psychotic conditions and their families
- mood disorders and their families
- eating disorders and their families
- personality disorders and their families
- somatization disorders and their families
- Identify the key issues that are involved in providing high quality care to individuals with cognitive disturbances and their families.
- Appreciate the importance of psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery principles in caring for individuals with psychotic conditions and their families.
- Identify the core components of practice in the acute care of individuals with:
- psychotic conditions and their families
- mood disorders and their families
- eating disorders and their families
- personality disorders and their families
- somatization disorders and their families
- Identify the core components of practice in the ongoing and long-term care of individuals with:
- psychotic conditions and their families
- mood disorders and their families
- eating disorders and their families
- personality disorders and their families e. somatization disorders and their families
Course topics
- Lesson 1: Ethical Responsibilities and Self Care
- Lesson 2: Collaboration and Teamwork in Clinical and Community Settings
- Lesson 3: Assessment of Mental Processes and Behaviours
- Lesson 4: Documentation and Care Planning
- Lesson 5: Emergency Assessment and Treatment
- Lesson 6: Caring for Individuals with Cognitive Disorders and Their Families
- Lesson 7: Caring for Individuals with Psychotic Conditions and Their Families
- Lesson 8: Caring for Individuals with Mood Disorders and Their Families
- Lesson 9: Caring for Individuals with Anxiety Disorders and Their Families
- Lesson 10: Caring for Individuals with Eating Disorders and Their Families
- Lesson 11: Caring for Individuals with Personality Disorders and Their Families
- Lesson 12: Caring for Individuals with Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders and Their Families
Required text and materials
The following material is required for this course:
- Goldbloom, D. S. (2010). Psychiatric Clinical Skills (revised 1st ed.). Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.
Type: Textbook. ISBN: 978-1-77052-378-4.
Assessments
To successfully complete this course, students must achieve a passing grade of 50% or higher on the overall course and 50% or higher on the mandatory Final Project.
| Assignment 1: Individualized Assessment and Care Plan | 30% |
| Assignment 2: Assessment Questions and Care Plan | 30% |
| Mandatory Final Project: Research Paper | 40% |
| Total | 100% |
Open Learning Faculty Member Information
An Open Learning Faculty Member is available to assist students. Students will receive the necessary contact information at the start of the course.
