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SOCA2505

Sociology and Psychology of Mental Health for Occupational Therapy

10 Units 2000 Level Course

Available in 2013

Callaghan Campus Semester 1

Previously offered in 2012

This course provides second year Occupational Therapy students the core sociology and psychology components required for their degree. It builds on the substantial theoretical and practical experiences of the OT degree with a focus on illustrating the interplay between sociological, psychological and social factors, which are core practice requirements in the discipline of Occupational Therapy.

a) The sociology strand addresses sociological perspectives of mental health and illness, including the social processes that lead to the labeling of people with mental illness and the construction of mental illness in society. The course also considers the processes, systems and structures that govern the provision of mental health services and health professional practice.
b) The psychological component focuses on the role of psychological processes in the maintenance of well being, and the manner in which psychological dysfunction can be a consequence or precipitant of impaired productivity.

Objectives Students will:

SOCIOLOGY:
- Identify sociological theories and perspectives on mental health and illness and identify the impacts on OT practice.
- Analyse the social processes related to mental health and illness and understand how these impact on access to treatment
- Critically explore the changing organization and treatment of mental illness and the involvement of health professions particularly with occupational therapy and its relationship to other related professions in a team
PSYCHOLOGY:
- Identify the major classifications of abnormal behaviour; their diagnosis, and clinical management as they pertain to OT practice
- Identify major psychological theoretical frames of reference that guide the practice of psychology (e.g. Psychoanalytical, behavioural, cognitive) with an aim to determining best practice for care.
Content SOCIOLOGY:
1) General Introduction: Debates, Dilemmas, Contradictions and Social Perspectives in Mental Health
2) Mental Illness in Isolation: The Debates of Co morbidity?
3) Young People and Mental Illness: Pop culture, media and meanings
4) Parents with Mental Illness and Children of Parents with Mental Illness: The Silences?
5) The Ageing Population: Mental Health Explosion?
6) Mental Health for the 21st Century: Policy, Progress and E-Mental Health

PSYCHOLOGY
7) Introduction to Abnormal Psychology
8) Classification Systems
9) Affective Disorders
10) Developmental Disabilities
11) Personality Disorders
12) Anxiety and Substance use Disorders
Replacing Course(s) PSYC3505
Transition Students who have completed PSYC3505 will not be eligible to enrol in SOCA2505.
Industrial Experience 0
Assumed Knowledge SOCA1200, PSYC1030, OCCT2220. + general OT practical experiences gained in placements
Modes of Delivery Flexible Delivery / Student Centred Learning
Internal Mode
Teaching Methods Lecture
Tutorial
Assessment Items
Essays / Written Assignments Sociology essay 30%
Examination: Formal Psychology end of semester exam 30%
Other: (please specify) In class weekly written assessment tasks and class exercises including presentations:
Sociology: 20% and Psychology 20%
Contact Hours Lecture: for 1 hour(s) per Week for 12 weeks
Tutorial: for 1 hour(s) per Week for 12 weeks
Compulsory Components
Requisite by Enrolment This course is only available to students enrolled in the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy.
Timetables 2013 Course Timetables for SOCA2505