Unit rationale, description and aim
This unit is designed to give students an introduction and overview of the interface between the disciplines of psychiatry and law. It examines how the empirical research and theories of psychiatry intersect with the application of legal principles and practices. As a result of successfully completing this unit, students should be able to translate personal and social issues concerning the study of mental illness into the practice of mental health law and evaluate the efficacy of different perspectives in relation to contemporary debates about mental illness. Students should also demonstrate successful teamwork, involving the ability to participate in collaborative learning activities face-to-face as well as the development of independent learning skills.
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.
Examine and apply mental health law to solve probl...
Learning Outcome 01
Use legal research and analytical skills to presen...
Learning Outcome 02
Understand the concept of Human Rights in the Ment...
Learning Outcome 03
Content
Topics will include:
- Psychiatrists and Psychologists in Court: the view from the expert witness and legal profession
- Introduction to the Mental Health Act
- Mental illness- Psychosis, Schizophrenia, Mania, Bipolar Disorder
- Treatment and Medication
- DSM/ICD classifications
- Cognitive Impairment, Intellectual Disability, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Overview of the Mental Health Act 2007(as amended in 2015)
- The criminal justice system, mental health courts and diversion-Mental Health (Forensic Provisions) Act 1990
- Jurisdiction of the Mental Health Review Tribunal and NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT)
- Guardianship, financial management, and consent to treatment
- International human rights law- United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons withDisabilities (CRPD)
- How does one predict dangerousness including risk assessments
- Forensic Psychiatry
- Not Guilty on Grounds of Mental Illness
- Mental Health and Detention Camps
Assessment strategy and rationale
The assessment strategy is designed to assess knowledge, skills and understanding in a specialist area of law, applying knowledge, skills and understanding acquired in Priestley units.
The assessment tasks for this unit are designed to demonstrate achievement of each of the learning outcomes listed.
Overview of assessments
Class Participation
Class Participation
20%
Assessment 2-Research Assignment
Assessment 2-Research Assignment
40%
Assessment 3-Final Take Home examination
Assessment 3-Final Take Home examination
40%
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
This level four elective unit allows students to demonstrate knowledge, skills and understanding in a specialist area of law applying knowledge, skills and understanding acquired in Priestley units.
Our strategy is to encourage students to creatively engage with unit content and to apply prior learnings to new legal problems.
This unit is taught in an intensive mode of delivery. Each weekend there will be approximately 12 hours of face-to-face seminar teaching (over three weekends). Students are required to study the online material and prescribed reading and complete activities before attending the weekend face-to-face seminar. You will need to engage with the online material, textbook and seminars in order to successfully complete this unit. We have taken a multimodal learning approach to provide accessibility and flexibility to our students and a student-focused approach that increases depth of learning and engagement through actively utilising Canvas.