Course Description

Content

Course unit 1: An Analytical, and Scientific Approach to Mental Health Work

ECTS: 12

Duration: 1st and 2nd semester

Course objectives:

After completing the course unit, the student should:

1. be aware of his/her personal view of humanity
2. have some insight into and an understanding of the relationship between mental health and social, cultural, spiritual and biological conditions
3. have some insight into and an understanding of the relationship between the conditions one lives under and the formation of identity
4. have knowledge of various perspectives on mental disorders
5. be able to see the relationship between scientific-theoretical interpretations, the development of theoretical knowledge and clinical practices

Teaching and learning methods:

Work in study-groups, seminars, lectures, and independent study

• Study-group discussions
• Written notes on one’s personal reflections
• Analysis and adaptation of one’s own texts and summaries of group products
• Written adaptation and presentation of a central theme covered in the course unit

Content:

The course unit introduces the students to central professional concepts, and stimulates reflection on the complex relationships between mental health and biological, social, cultural and religious circumstances. In this course unit we will analyse the problem of how society has influenced ways of living and thinking, and the ability to control one’s own life . Various clinical approaches to mental illness will be presented and analysed from the viewpoints of both professional health care and the user. The course unit will help to illuminate and analyse the relationship between various theoretical approaches, the selection of treatment strategies, and one’s own view of humanity.

1. Social conditions, ethics, human-, life- and scientific views
2. Mental complaints and illnesses from a theoretical and historical perspective
3. Social development and the significance of the social environment to mental illness
4. Intervention and treatment of people with mental problems
5. The use of medications in the treatment of mental illness
6. Cultural understanding and mental health

Assessment methods:

Programme requirement 1. (The criteria for individual programme requirements are included as enclosures to the curriculum which is distributed at the beginning of the course unit)

Course code: 982HEMN1 ST1:

Reflection notes about mental health: A, B and C

The student’s attitude towards, understanding of and experience with mental health. Demonstrating one’s personal competence and professional associations, as well as one’s insight into various health and social professions. Written response with a length of at least 500 words.

Programme requirement 2:

Course code: 982HEMN1 ST2

Reflection over one’s own view of humanity

The students’ understanding of their own personal views of humanity, related to theory and clinical experience. Individual responses, with a minimum length of 800 words

- The content of these programme requirements are relevant to the completion of programme requirement 4 and the student must receive a passing grade in each before being allowed to stand for examination in major course unit 1.

Course unit 2: A Practical and Relational Approach to Mental Work Health

ECTS: 9

Duration: 1st and 2nd semester

Course objectives:

After completing the course unit, the students should:

• have further developed their capacity for empathy and working together with people suffering from mental disorders
• be aware of their own contributions with a view to the nature of the relationships
• be able to distinguish between different communicative strategies
• have developed some insight into helping users to actively participate in mental health work

Teaching and learning methods:

Working in study-groups, seminars, lectures, role-playing, and independent study

• Study-group discussions
• Role-playing in groups
• Review and analysis of role-play
• Written theoretical and analytical adaptation of the role-play

Guidance in groups throughout the entire study period, with necessary personal supervision, note keeping and assistance with instruction

Content:

The course unit focuses on the complementary nature of the relationship and rests on basic knowledge of communication and mutual cooperation. The course unit emphasises practical experience with different interactions and the analysis of these situations based on relevant theory.

1. Existential, ethical and relational phenomena in encounters with people suffering from mental disorders.
2. Communication and understanding roles
3. Relationships associated with power, force and control.
4. The fundamental significance of ethics for the establishment and maintenance of durable relationships.

Assessment methods:

Programme requirement 3:

Course code: 982HEMN1 ST3

The significance and conditions of relationships in mental health work – examination unit

The students will seek to develop experience in building relationships, demonstrate their ability to interact and analyse their meetings with individuals suffering from mental disorders. Role-play in a group will form a basis for the theoretical analysis of an interaction. The subject teacher will provide a verbal reaction and analysis to role-play in plenum. The group will produce a written paper in which the role-play exercise will be described, analysed and discussed. The report should be around 3500 words in length. This paper will count for 40% of the cumulative grade in major course unit I and will be evaluated according to the applicable grade scale.

ECTS: 12

Course unit 3: The Organisation and Service Programmes in Mental Health Work

ECTS: 9

Duration: 2nd semester

Course objectives:

After completing the course unit, the student should:

• be familiar with the history of psychiatry
• have an overall idea of today’s organisation in the mental health services, and be familiar with the political and ideological approaches behind this organisation.
• be able to evaluate initiatives within mental health work in relation to the relevant legal system
• have an understanding of quality-assurance systems and the ideas behind them

Teaching and learning methods:

Seminars, lectures, self-study, individual, written home-examination.

Content:

The course unit sketches the growth and history of the mental health services and focuses on today’s organisation of the mental health services with particular emphasis on concepts such as interdisciplinary teamwork, user contributions and cooperation. The course unit examines the current legal framework for mental health work, the development and quality control of the service options and the challenges that occur in connection with the use of compulsory mental-health initiatives.

1. The history of madness
2. The organisation of municipal, regional and national services within mental health work.
3. Health and socio-political trends within mental health work
4. How the law affects mental health work
5. Interdisciplinary cooperation and the development of the mental health services.
6. Quality assurance and internal control

Assessment methods:

Programme requirement 4:

Course code 982HEMN1 ST4

Individual understanding of mental health work - examination unit

Individual written assignment related to the understanding of and application of the knowledge of the subjects covered in major course unit 1 (6000 words).

The response is evaluated according to the current grade scale, and will count for 60% of the total grade for major course unit 1 (18 ECTS).

Minor adjustments may occur during the academic year, subject to the decision of the Dean