Course description
This course provides foundational knowledge and skills for social work practice in the field of mental health. The course emphasizes strengths-based, recovery-oriented approaches. Students will explore historical, contemporary, and emerging perspectives on mental health, with a focus on the recovery model that views recovery and wellness as achievable goals. Topics include mental health legislation, ethical considerations, cultural contexts, and core issues in mental health social work practice. Students will examine and critically discuss models of illness classification, such as the DSM, and treatment approaches, integrating both medical and social work perspectives to support client-centered practice.
Course content
Course content will be guided by research, empirical knowledge and best practices. The following values and principles, consistent with professional standards, inform course content.
- Addressing mental health disparities from a social justice lens requires acknowledging the impact of systemic oppression, racism, colonialism, and the social determinants of health, and working to dismantle these barriers.
- A thorough understanding of current mental health classifications, treatments, and provincial mental health services is essential for effective advocacy and client support.
- Social workers should prioritize community-based supports, empowering clients through self-determination and connection to resources, while recognizing their inherent capacity for resilience and recovery.
- Social workers must critically reflect on their own values, beliefs and attitudes, recognizing how these influence their practice in mental health care.
Learning activities
Lecture
Discussion
Role-play
Group work
Presentations
Means of assessment
This course will conform to Douglas College Evaluation Policy regarding the number and weighting of evaluations. Other means of evaluation may include a combination of:
- Papers
- Case study analysis
- Role-play demonstrations
- Exams
Evaluations will be carried out in accordance with Douglas College Evaluation Policy and will include both formative and summative components. Instructors may use a student’s record of attendance and/or level of active participation in a course as part of the student’s graded performance. Where this occurs, expectations and grade calculations regarding class attendance and participation will be clearly defined in the Instructor Course Outline.
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Express one's own beliefs about mental health.
- Demonstrate an understanding of issues related to assessing mental health, including a working knowledge of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association.
- Describe the key characteristics of mental health challenges as well as their impacts on individuals, families and society.
- Describe techniques for working with people who are experiencing mental health challenges.
- Apply a bio-psychosocial approach to the understanding of mental health, wellness and treatment approaches.
- Discuss how culture impacts all aspects of mental health.
- Explain the system of mental health services in Canada and British Columbia.
- Describe the current mental health legislation in British Columbia.
Textbook materials
Texts such as the following, the list to be updated periodically:
Regehr, C. & Glancy, G. (2022). Mental Health Social Work Practice in Canada. (current edition). Don Mills, ON: Oxford University Press.