Course Title: Global Mental Health

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Global Mental Health

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

NURS2186

City Campus

Postgraduate

173H School of Health and Biomed

Face-to-Face

Sem 2 2017,
Sem 2 2018,
Sem 2 2019,
Sem 2 2020,
Sem 2 2021,
Sem 2 2022,
Sem 2 2023

Course Coordinator: Dr Sinead Barry

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 0520

Course Coordinator Email: sinead.barry@rmit.edu.au


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None


Course Description

Mental health, neurological and substance use disorders make a substantial contribution to the global burden of disease. Globally, almost one million people die due to suicide every year making it the third leading cause of death among young people. The most important causes of disability due to health-related conditions worldwide include unipolar depression, alcoholism, schizophrenia, bipolar depression and dementia in low- and middle-income countries.

Global Mental Health will examine contemporary and emerging issues and advances in international practices in mental health. The course considers how to best improve mental health and achieve equity in mental health outcomes for all, whilst acknowledging the role of local context. The epidemiology of mental disorders in selected countries, treatment options, mental health education, political and financial aspects, the structure of mental health care systems, human resources in mental health and human rights issues are all addressed.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the development of the Program Learning Outcomes for MC268 Master of Mental Health Nursing in the following ways. The Mental Health Nurse:

  • PLO 1: Acknowledges diversity in culture, values and belief systems and ensures his/her practice is non-discriminatory and promotes dignity and self-determination.
  • PLO 4: Collaboratively plans and provides ethically based care consistent with the mental, physical, spiritual, emotional, social and cultural needs of the individual.
  • PLO 5: Values the contributions of other agencies and stakeholders in the collaborative provision of holistic, evidence based care and in ensuring comprehensive service provision for people with mental health issues.
  • PLO 6: Actively pursues opportunities to reduce stigma and promotes social inclusion and community participation for all people with mental health issues.
  • PLO 7: Demonstrates evidence based practice and actively promotes practice innovation through lifelong education, research, professional development, clinical supervision and reflective practice.
  • PLO 8: Practices by incorporating and reflecting common law requirements, relevant statutes and the nursing profession’s code of conduct and ethics. Integrates international, national, local and state policies and guidelines with professional Standards and competencies.


Upon successful completion of this course you will be able to:

  1. Identify innovative mental health practices from around the world and consider the application of these to various communities.
  2. Critically review the impact of migration, displacement and colonisation on the identity of communities and their mental health.
  3. Critically appraise epidemiological data on the global burden of mental illness and in particular suicide, substance abuse and violence
  4. Identify assessment, monitoring and intervention strategies that are culturally sensitive.
  5. Develop culturally appropriate systems of monitoring health care needs within diverse communities and propose strategies to facilitate increased access to services and treatment for mental illness.
  6. Evaluate the potential impact of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM 5) and International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD 10) on the treatment of diverse communities. 


Overview of Learning Activities

You will be actively engaged in a range of learning activities such as lectorials, tutorials, practicals, laboratories, seminars, project work, class discussion, individual and group activities. Delivery may be face to face, online or a mix of both.

You are encouraged to be proactive and self-directed in your learning, asking questions of your lecturer and/or peers and seeking out information as required, especially from the numerous sources available through the RMIT library, and through links and material specific to this course that is available through myRMIT Studies Course.


Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through myRMIT Studies Course.

There are services available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal.


Overview of Assessment

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task 1: Transcultural Care and Mental Health Assessment
Weighting 35%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 5 & 6

Assessment Task 2: Global Burden of Mental Illness Written Assignment
Weighting 45%
This assessment task supports CLOs 3, 4 & 5

Assessment Task 3: Online Quiz and Reflection
Weighting 20%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6

If you have a long-term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.