Course Title: Work with people with mental health issues

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2025

Course Code: OHTH5919C

Course Title: Work with people with mental health issues

Important Information:

Please note that this course has compulsory in-person attendance requirements for some teaching and assessment activities. 

 

School: 535T Social Care and Health

Campus: City Campus

Program: C4432 - Certificate IV in Community Services

Course Contact: Bella Kelly

Course Contact Phone: 9925 4109

Course Contact Email: bella.kelly@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Nominal Hours: 80

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None

Course Description

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to establish relationships, clarify needs, and then work collaboratively with people who are living with mental health issues.

This unit applies to support workers in contexts outside the mental health sector, but who come into contact with people with mental health issues. The services and support provided are not mental health specific.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

CHCMHS001 Work with people with mental health issues

Element:

1. Establish respectful relationships with people with mental health issues

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Communicate in a way that develops and maintains respect, hope, trust and self-direction

1.2 Work in a way that reflects and prioritises the person’s right to self define and direct their own recovery

1.3 Recognise and respect the person’s social, cultural and spiritual differences

1.4 Support the person to understand and exercise their rights

1.5 Maintain confidentiality and privacy of the person within organisation policy and protocols

Element:

2. Determine the needs of people with mental health issues

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Gather and interpret information about the person’s needs from the person and other agreed sources

2.2 Identify and discuss with the person services and strategies that support empowerment and recovery

2.3 Support the person to express their own identity and preferences and avoid imposing own values and attitudes

2.4 Identify duty of care and dignity of risk considerations in collaboration with the person

Element:

3. Work with people with mental health issues to meet aspirations and needs

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Provide support that facilitates progress towards the person’s goals in collaboration with the person and their care network

3.2 Work in ways that uphold the person’s rights

3.3 Adapt service delivery within organisation policies and procedures to meet the person’s specific needs and requirements

3.4 Document interactions and services according to organisation policy and procedures

3.5 Respond promptly and supportively to people experiencing distress or crisis

3.6 Work within the limits of own knowledge, abilities and work role and make referrals to other services as indicated by the person’s needs

Learning Outcomes


On successful completion of this course you will have developed and applied the skills and knowledge required to demonstrate competency in the above elements. 


Details of Learning Activities

Learning activities will include:

Practical demonstrations
Online Discussion Forums, Groupwork and Quizzes
Analysis/critique of relevant reading material
Workshops, group discussion
Peer learning
Guest lecture/presentation
Research activities
Group activities/projects
Simulated workplace activities


Teaching Schedule

Course Schedule: Work with people with Mental Health Issues
Semester 1: 2025

Week 1

 

Introduction to mental health in Australia

  • What is Mental Health
    • Definitions
    • Myths and Facts
    • Statistics
    • Language
  • Practice Frameworks
    • Risk and Protective Factors
    • Recovery Model
    • Chime Model
    • Holistic approach

  • Mental health sector services, policy frameworks and values and principles

    • Mental Health services and policy frameworks in Australia
    • Mental health sector values
    • Principles underpinning service provision
    • Social inclusion / Exclusion
  

Week 2

 

 

Understanding mental health issues from the consumer perspective

    • Diagnosis
    • Mental health conditions / illnesses / disorders
    • Mental health in older people
    • Mental health in adolescence
  • Suicide
    • Identifying and managing risk
  • Empowering clients
    • Empowering clients to develop strategies that support recovery
    • Promoting dignity of risk and supporting individual choice
    • Overcoming effects of prejudice and discrimination

 

Week 3

 

Communicating collaboratively with consumers

  • Recovery oriented communication methods 
    • Developing and maintaining respect, hope, trust and self-direction
    • Working in a way that reflects and prioritises the person’s right to self-define and direct their own recovery
  • Understanding mental health issues from the consumer perspective continued
    • Mental health conditions / illnesses / disorders concluded
  • Homelessness and Mental Health Conditions
    • working with clients at risk of homelessness and who experience mental health issues
  • Screening Tools used in Mental Health

 

Week 4

 

 

Assessment 3 workshop

Assessment 1&2 Planning

  • Role Play Practice

Assessment Task 3 Due

 

Week 5

Assessment - Role Plays: Richard

  • Completing assessment role plays

 

 

 

Week 6

Assessment - Role Plays: Juliette

  • Completing assessment role plays

 

Assessment 1: Written Tasks Due.  

Week 7

 

Assessment - Role Plays: Tamara

  • Completing assessment role plays

 

Assessment 2: Role Play   

Week 8

Assessment - Roleplays 

Completing written assessment

Written Task Due. 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

Please refer to the RMIT student page for extensive information about study support, assessment, extensions, appeals and a range of other matters: rmit.edu.au/students


Overview of Assessment

There are three individual assessment tasks consisting of role plays, and short answer questions. 


Assessment Tasks

You will be given two (2) attempts for each assessment to demonstrate the required knowledge and skills. A third (3rd) attempt can only be offered after discussions between teacher and the Program Coordinator and is not automatic. Resubmissions beyond two (2) attempts are at the discretion of the teacher and/or coordinator.

 

Assessment Task 1 - This practical assessment task requires students  to demonstrate skills working with 2 different clients  in a role-play that simulates workplace conditions.

Assessment Task 2 - This practical assessment task requires students  to demonstrate skills working with a client  in a role-play that simulates workplace conditions.

Assessment Task 3 - This is a written assessment  requires students to answer fifteen (15) questions; utilising knowledge of common mental health issues and the key issues facing people with mental health issues.


Assessment Matrix

A marking rubric for each assessment task is located on Canvas

Other Information

You are required to attend a minimum of 80% of all classes to successfully complete each unit and all timetabled sessions. This will allow you to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring you the maximum opportunity to complete this course successfully.

 

Course Overview: Access Course Overview