This course outlines nursing approaches to the assessment and collaborative management of people with mental health disorders and includes consumer perspectives. There is an introduction to evidence-based psychological, somatic and psychosocial interventions used in the management of mental illness and an overview of recent mental health policy developments in Australia. In addition, there is an exploration of the challenges to maintaining the mental health of Australians including: social dislocation, the scope of unmet need and the difficulties of service provision peculiar to metropolitan and rural areas. Mental illness is recognised as a major public health issue in Australia, however the growing need for mental health services in our communities means that only a minority of cases can be managed by specialist services. For this reason it is important that all registered nurses are able to understand and help consumers with mental illness in any health care setting.


This course is a Compulsory Program Component and students must pass in order to progress in the Bachelor of Nursing program