HHS200 Aboriginal Mental Health and Wellbeing 2 (8)
CSU Discipline Area: Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health (NRMIH)
Duration: One session
Abstract:
Mental health is the capacity of the individual, the groups and the environment to interact with one another in ways, which promote subjective wellbeing. The Ways Forward Report (1995) states that health does not just mean the physical wellbeing of the individual but refers to the social, emotional and cultural wellbeing of the whole community. The experiences of human trauma and loss must be recognised as contributing to the impairment of health and wellbeing suffered by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Any service development must address these issues in terms of preventing and healing. Health care services, therefore, should strive to achieve the state where every individual can achieve their full potential as human beings and thus bring about the total wellbeing of their communities. This subject addresses the causes, incidence of mental health problems in urban, rural and remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and models of care to address these.
+ Subject Availability Modes and Locations
No offerings have been identified for this subject in 2013.Continuing students should consult the SAL for current offering details prior to contacting their course coordinator: HHS200
Where differences exist between the handbook and the SAL, the SAL should be taken as containing the correct subject offering details.
Assumed Knowledge:
Enrolment restrictions:
Available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students enrolled in the Bachelor of Health Science (Mental Health) course, and Indigenous students enrolled in welfare and allied health programs
Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:
define mental health as the social, emotional and cultural well-being of the whole community;
determine that experiences of human trauma and loss are contributing factors to the impairment of health and well-being;
identify behaviours and conditions which may be culture related rather than indications of mental illness/disorder;
describe the causes, incidence of mental health problems in urban, rural and remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities;
identify mental health problems which have arisen in Aboriginal society since colonisation including the impact of colonisation and suicide and self harm;
assess the importance of service development addressing prevention and healing;
treat every individual who can achieve their full potential as human beings and thus bring about the total well-being of their communities;
develop and apply strategies to educate non-Aboriginal mental health workers about the relevance of cultural sensitivity when working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Syllabus:
The subject will cover the following topics:
Definition of mental health as the social, emotional and cultural well-being; importance of treating individuals as human beings and thus bringing about the total well-being of their communities; Human trauma and loss are contributing factors to the impairment of health and well-being; Culture related behaviours and conditions versus mental illness/disorder; Causes, incidences of mental health problems in urban, rural and remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities; mental health problems which have arisen in Aboriginal society since colonisation including the impact of colonisation and suicide and self harm; Service development addressing prevention and healing; Barriers to service utilisation; Role of the Aboriginal Mental Health Worker; strategies to educate non-Aboriginal mental health workers about the relevance of cultural sensitivity;
Residential School
This subject contains a compulsory 4 day residential school.
The information contained in the 2013 CSU Handbook was accurate at the date of publication: 24 April 2013. The University reserves the right to vary the information at any time without notice.