303279 (v.2) CAS - Common Mental Disorders 215

Area:

Centre for Aboriginal Studies

Credits:

25.0

Contact Hours:

30.0

Seminar:

1 x 30 Hours Quarterly

Prerequisite(s):

303268 (v.2) CAS - Mental Health of Indigenous People 212 or any previous version

Syllabus:

Health-illness continuum - cultural differences in relation to how mental health is understood, indigenous perception and explanation of mental disorder. Mental disorders of indigenous people - Current prevalence of mental illness through psychiatric surveys, reports and health service records. Common mental disorders - schizophrenia, affective, anxiety and personality disorders, organic brain syndromes and sexual disorders, the causes, clinical picture of their disorders, treatment and care of people intheir home. State Mental Health Act - analysis and relationship to care and protection of mentally ill clients of all age groups.

Unit Outcomes:

On successful completion of this unit, the student will have- Explained the continuum of mental health to ill health. Analysed the State's Mental Health Act in relation to the care and protection of mentally ill clients. Described the common mental health disorders of indigenous clients.

Text and references listed above are for your information only and current as of September 30, 2003. Please check with the unit coordinator for up-to-date information.

Unit References:

A National Aboriginal Health Strategy. (1989). Report. Canberra: National Aboriginal Health Strategy Working Party. Clare, M. and Jayasuriya, L. (Eds). (1990). 'Issues in cross-cultural practice'. Occasional paper. Dept of Social Work and Social Administration: University of Western Australia. Clayer, J. and Dwakaran-Brown. (1991). 'Mental health and Behavioural Problems in the Urban Aboriginal Population'. Report by the Aboriginal Health Organization. Adelaide: The South Australian Health Commission. Dudgeon, P. and Grogan, G. (1994). 'Developing appropriate services for the mental health of Aboriginal people'. Paper presented to the annual symposium, Social and Cultural Section, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists. Broome, WA: Curtin University. Hunter, E. (1993). Aboriginal Health, History, Power and Prejudice in Remote Australia. Melbourne: Cambridge Uni Press. National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Clearinghouse. http://cowan.edu.au/clearinghouse. Reid, J. and Trompf, P. (1991). The Health of Aboriginal Australia. Marrickville, NSW: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. Swan, P. and Raphael, B. (1995). Aboriginal mental health. Everybody's business. Monograph series No. 1. Sydney: Aboriginal Medical Services.

Unit Texts:

No prescribed texts.

Unit Assessment Breakdown:

Objective type test (1), Group discussion report, Case study (client with a particular mental disorder), Journal writing. Students must obtain a 50% grade in each assessment unit to achieve a Pass grade. This is by Pass/Fail Assessment.

Year	Location	Period	Internal	Area External	Central External
2004	Bentley Campus	Semester 1	Y