Unit rationale, description and aim
People with a lived experience of mental illness are reported to face a significantly increased prevalence of physical health and social inequalities. Mental health practitioners must therefore be able to recognise and respond to these inequalities through the provision of health promotion and advocacy for consumers of mental health services.
Challenges associated with coexisting physical health and social inequalities and the impact on the person will be examined. Students will explore current policies and practices for health promotion, prevention, early intervention and greater social inclusion in the Australian mental health care system.
The aim of this unit is to provide students with the opportunity to critically evaluate the relationship between mental health and the physical and social inequalities of health experienced by people with a lived experience of mental illness.
Learning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
Identify and critically analyse the physical and s...
Learning Outcome 01
Critically examine the current health promotion po...
Learning Outcome 02
Critically analyse social inclusion strategies tha...
Learning Outcome 03
Content
Topics will include:
Determinants of health
- Social
- Environmental
- Cultural perspectives
- The role of stigma
Comorbidity with mental health conditions
- Physical health needs of individuals with mental illness
- Implications of comorbidity needs on health care management
- The role and impact of psychopharmacology
Health promotion
- Current models and theories of health promotion
- Current policies and strategies for health promotion
- Health lifestyle and health maintenance
- Self-efficacy and self-management in health
- Wellness planning
- Mental health promotion for diversity
- Health promotion across the lifespan
- Psychoeducation
- Evidence based psycho-social interventions that assist in health promotion
- Strategies for social inclusion
Health resources
- Accessing services that support people who experience coexisting physical and mental conditions
- Access and equity issues in health care
- multidisciplinary team approach
Assessment strategy and rationale
The assessment strategy used allows for the progressive development of knowledge and skills necessary for the student to be able to demonstrate ethical and effective professional practice in the delivery of health promotion and advocacy for consumers of mental health services.
The assessments tasks are designed to align with the learning outcomes and content to ensure that students demonstrate an understanding of health promotion issues and social determinants of health for people with mental illness. Assessment 1 provides students with an opportunity to first demonstrate their understanding of the social determinants of health relevant to people who experience mental illness and then their understanding of current health promotion policies and practices within mental health services. Assessment 2 requires students to draw on their learning from this unit to identify relevant social determinants of health, health promotion and social inclusion strategies which could be implemented within their work setting with a vulnerable population.
In order to pass this unit students must:
- Demonstrate achievement of every learning outcome, and
- Obtain a minimum mark of 50% for the unit, and
- Achieve a mark of 50% or greater in Assessment 2 which is a graded hurdle.
Where students achieve a cumulative mark of 50% or more for the unit, overall, but do not achieve a mark of 50% or greater in Assessment 2 they will be offered one further attempt in Assessment 2. If students pass this further assessment, they will pass the unit and their original mark will be the final unit mark. If students fail the further assessment, they will fail the unit.
Overview of assessments
Assessment Task 1: Written Assessment First stud...
Assessment Task 1: Written Assessment
First students are to identify and critically analyse the key social determinants of health that impact on mental health consumers and then demonstrate their understanding of current health promotion policies and practices within mental health services.
50%
Assessment Task 2: Case Study Students are to ch...
Assessment Task 2: Case Study
Students are to choose a population at risk of mental health issues due to their experiences of stigma and inequality. They will then identify and discuss relevant social determinants of health, health promotion and social inclusion strategies. which could be implemented for this population in their work setting.
50% (graded hurdle)
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
This unit uses an active learning approach to support students in the exploration of knowledge essential to health promotion for people with a lived experience of mental illness. Students are expected to contribute to asynchronous weekly discussions to learn from others’ experiences and perspectives. Active learning opportunities provide students with opportunities to practice and apply their learning in their work settings. Activities encourage students to bring their own examples to demonstrate understanding and application, and to engage constructively with their peers.