Biopsychosocial and Cultural Perspectives in Mental Health

Biopsychosocial and Cultural Perspectives in Mental Health

Unit code: HNO6011

Credit points: 12

This unit examines biopsychosocial and cultural perspectives of mental illness. This includes the links between serious mental illness, physical health conditions, complex comorbidities, and disability. Students will interrogate the correlation between lower levels of physical health, mental health, and socio-economic indices for people experiencing chronic physical conditions and mental ill-health. Students will also cross-examine the ethical dilemmas and cultural perspectives of mental ill-health for people with diverse experiences, backgrounds, and lifestyles. This includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, culturally and linguistically diverse groups, LGBTQIA+ peoples, veteran groups, and people from metropolitan, regional, rural, and remote communities across Australia. Students will also evaluate the value of care coordination and care planning approaches for people with complex health and sociocultural needs.

Learning outcomes

 

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

  1. Critique the biopsychosocial model that explains mental illness with the medical, ecological systems, transactional, and other relevant models.
  2. Critically review understandings of 'mental health' and 'mental illness' from people with diverse experiences, backgrounds, and lifestyles.
  3. Interrogate the correlations between lower levels of physical health, mental health, and socio-economic indices.
  4. Critically reflect on the multiple risk factors for people with diverse experiences, backgrounds, and lifestyles.
  5. Evaluate care coordination and care planning approaches for people with complex mental health and social needs.
  6. Participate in an academic community through reflective and critical engagement and understanding of principles of academic integrity.

 

Assessment

 

Other: Reflection: Cultural Constructions of Mental Health and Illness (500 words) - 10%

Research paper: Critique of models of mental health illness (2,500 words) - 50%

Case study: Mental health care coordination for a person from a diverse background (2000 words) - 40%

Other: Evidence of completion of the Academic Integrity Modules - 0%

 

Related course/s

 

This unit is studied as part of the online Master of Mental Health , Graduate Certificate in Mental Health, Master of Mental Health Nursing, Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing, Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing and Master of Child and Adolescent Mental Health.