Mental Health and Neurodiversity (3 cr)

Evaluation scale

Pass/Fail

Objective

The aim of the course is to build an understanding of the concepts and complexity of mental health and neurodiversity

Competences:

Ethics (For all degrees)
Social work with clients (Bachelor of Social Work).
Expertise in theoretical basis of rehabilitation and occupational therapy (Occupational Therapist).
Clinical reasoning and occupational therapy process enabling participation(Occupational Therapist)
Rehabilitation counselling and guidance (Rehabilitation counsellor)
Rehabilitation service system (Rehabilitation counsellor)
Methods of physiotherapy (Physiotherapist)

Learning objectives:

Understand the importance of your own attitudes and perceptions related to mental health and neurodiversity phenomenas in professional interaction.

You will be able to promote equality and equity and take into account diversity and accessibility in your work.

You understand the broad scope of the concepts of mental health and neurodiversity. You know what the most common neuropsychiatric and mental health disorders are and how they manifest themselves in people's everyday lives at different ages and stages of life.

You will be able to identify and assess risk and protective factors for mental health and apply methods of preventive work and early intervention. You will understand the importance of service counselling and your role as part of the client process.

Content

The main focus of the course is to reflect on attitudes and perceptions related to mental health and neurodiversity, the concept of mental health and neurodiversity, protective and risk factors for mental health, the most common neuropsychiatric and mental health disorders and their manifestations in everyday life at different ages and stages of life. It also covers the main services that support clients and the legislation governing these services.

Location and time

Contact days take place either at the Dynamo campus or at the Rajakatu campus on weekdays between 8am and 4pm. Webinars will be held at Zoom on weekdays between 8am and 4pm. A more detailed schedule of the learning situations can be found in the moodle.

Teaching methods

The course includes both on-campus contact days and interactive webinars. Prior to the contact days and webinars, students will complete preliminary assignments and/or read theoretical materials in preparation for the learning situations. There is no possibility of remote participation in the contact days. Webinars are interactive learning situations and a working camera and microphone are required to participate in webinars. Webinars will not be recorded. In addition, students will complete individual and small group learning assignments during the course.

Employer connections

Whenever possible, the course will be attended by expert visitors.

Exam schedules

There is no exam.

Completion alternatives

If the student has previous educational background and/or work experience related to the course topics, full or partial accreditation and RPL procedure may be possible. At least six months of work experience and/or previous education and training must be at least bachelor's level to be eligible for credit. In their application, students must describe their previous knowledge and skills in relation to the content and objectives of the course and include relevant certificates of employment and/or training. The application for admission (eAhot) must be submitted to the teacher responsible for the course at least one week before the start of the course so that the teacher can make a decision on admission before the start of the course. Once the course has started, applications for admission will no longer be processed.

Student workload

Learning situations 18h
Preparing for learning situations 18h
Group activity 25h
Independent tasks and familiarisation with literature and other material 20h

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

You will be able to describe your own attitudes towards mental health and neurodiversity and how they play a role in your professional interactions. You will know how to promote equality and equity and how to take into account accessibility and diversity in your work.

You can describe the concept of mental health. You can identify the protective and risk factors for mental health and the most common neuropsychiatric and mental health disorders and their manifestations in everyday life at different ages and stages of life. You will be able to describe the main mental health support services and the legislation governing these services. Be able to describe the key services and legislation that support individuals and communities with neuropsychiatric challenges.

Qualifications

You can describe the social and health care service system and name the laws that govern it. You can explain the ethical principles and values that guide your work in your field. You can describe professionalism in interaction and guidance work and what functioning means in a persons lives.

Further information

The course will be graded pass/fail. The course assignments must be completed according to a separately announced timetable in moodle.