CQUniversity Unit Profile
BMSC11009 Mental Health Literacy for Health Professionals
Mental Health Literacy for Health Professionals
All details in this unit profile for BMSC11009 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

As a health care professional, you may encounter clients whose mental health challenges impact upon their daily lives. In this unit you will develop knowledge that will assist in your recognition of mental health disorders as a health care professional, and learn about the appropriate referral networks and therapeutic options that are available to deal with these issues. Your ability to communicate effectively with clients, with consideration and awareness of their different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, will be developed as part of this unit.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 1
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 8
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

There are no requisites for this unit.

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 2 - 2024

Online

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Essay
Weighting: 40%
2. Online Quiz(zes)
Weighting: 30%
3. Presentation
Weighting: 30%

Assessment Grading

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from SUTE

Feedback

Some students felt that the overall requirements of the unit were unclear.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the Unit Coordinator explore strategies for ensuring the requirements of this unit are clear.

Feedback from SUTE

Feedback

Students found the knowledge and skills developed in this unit useful for their future practice.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the Unit Coordinator continue to facilitate the development of useful knowledge and skills that can be applied to future practice.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Explain the mental health landscape in Australia
  2. Recognise indications that a person might be experiencing mental health challenges from an inclusive and cross cultural perspective
  3. Describe the therapeutic options available for people who may be experiencing different types of mental health conditions and/or challenges
  4. Communicate effectively and considerately with clients of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs.
Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Essay - 40%
2 - Online Quiz(zes) - 30%
3 - Presentation - 30%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Communication
2 - Problem Solving
3 - Critical Thinking
4 - Information Literacy
5 - Team Work
6 - Information Technology Competence
7 - Cross Cultural Competence
8 - Ethical practice
9 - Social Innovation
10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes

Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 - Essay - 40%
2 - Online Quiz(zes) - 30%
3 - Presentation - 30%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

There are no required textbooks.

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
Referencing Style

No referencing style set.

Teaching Contacts
David McNaughton Unit Coordinator
d.mcnaughton@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 08 Jul 2024

Module/Topic

Lecture Topics:

1. Introduction to BMSC11009 (outline, requirements, and assessments)

2. Models and mechanisms of behaviour change (Health belief model, Transtheoretical model and taxonomy of behaviour change).

Tutorial:

Models of behaviour change. Utilising behaviour change in health promotion and health services. 

3. Relevance for infographic

 

 

Chapter

provided readings on Moodle

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 15 Jul 2024

Module/Topic

Lecture Topics:

1. Biopsychosocial model (BPM) of health, using musculoskeletal pain as example.

2. Critical psychological concepts in pain: Self-efficacy, kinesophobia, catastrophising and mood (anx/dep)

3. Psychological treatments for pain

4. Relevance for Essay

Tutorial topic:

BPM of health, with specific examples in MSK pain.

Revise critical psychological concepts in pain, important for essay content.

Teach simple psychological treatments for pain – Body scanning / mindfulness meditation, progressive muscle relaxation.

Chapter

Pain Course material 

Two Research papers

Fillingham 2017

Goubert & Trompetter, 2017

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 Begin Date: 22 Jul 2024

Module/Topic

Lecture Topics:

1. Introduction to DSM-V-TR.

2. Assessment of Psychiatric disorders (clinical interview, questionnaires, and other objective measures) 

Tutorial topic:

Culturally appropriate healthcare. Specifically related to Indigenous Australians with relevance for essay and future clinical practice. 

 

Chapter

Yarning about Mental Health

Social Emotional Wellbeing Ind Aus

Cultural safety for MSK care

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 29 Jul 2024

Module/Topic

Lecture Topic:

Depression (DSM-V-TR diagnoses, epidemiology, signs / symptoms, treatment, and relevance for health professionals)

Tutorial Topics:

Essay Preparation 1:

1. How to search for and access scientific articles

2. Reading and reporting scientific articles

Chapter

Mental Health Care. Chapter 7. (pages 247 - 265)

Complete PHQ-9, DASS and K-10

Provide questionnaires for Depression.

Online resources (black dog, beyond blue etc..)

Events and Submissions/Topic

Quiz 1: opens on Thursday at 9am and friday closes at 4pm

Week 5 Begin Date: 05 Aug 2024

Module/Topic

Lecture Topics:

Anxiety / phobias (DSM-V-TR diagnoses, epidemiology, signs / symptoms, treatment, and relevance for health professionals

Tutorial Topics:

Essay Preparation 2:

1. Referencing software

2. Appropriate referencing of scientific studies

Chapter

Mental Health Care. Chapter 7. (pages 278 - 284)

Complete GAD-7 and PMR

Online resources beyond blue, headspace

Events and Submissions/Topic

Vacation Week Begin Date: 12 Aug 2024

Module/Topic

Chapter

 

 

 

 

 

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 19 Aug 2024

Module/Topic

Lecture Topic:

Alcohol and Substance abuse (DSM-V-TR diagnoses, epidemiology, signs / symptoms, treatment, and relevance for health professionals)

Tutorial Topic:

Essay Preparation 3:

1. Writing essays in Psychology (structure and tips).

Chapter

Mental Health Care 

 Chapter 10. Substance Abuse Disorders

Additional Resources

Provide questionnaires for Alcohol and Substance abuse.

Online resources lifeline, Alcohol and drug foundation, ADIN dept Health and ageing

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 7 Begin Date: 26 Aug 2024

Module/Topic

Lecture Topic:

Autism Spectrum Disorders / ADHD (DSM-V-TR diagnoses, epidemiology, signs / symptoms, treatment, and relevance for health professionals

Tutorial Topic:

Essay Preparation 4:

1. Going through strong and weak essays. Use previous year to highlight critical mistakes relevant to rubric.

Chapter

Questionnaires for ASD

Online resources for ASD

Events and Submissions/Topic

Essay Due

Friday 30rd August 11:59PM


Essay Due: Week 7 Friday (30 Aug 2024) 11:59 pm AEST
Week 8 Begin Date: 02 Sep 2024

Module/Topic

Lecture Topic:

Domestic Violence

(Epidemiology, signs, and relevance for health professionals). Appropriate referral networks and what to do in situations of suspected or reported domestic violence

Tutorial Topic:

Infographic Preparation 1:
Outline infographic expectations.

What makes a good infographic, what doesn’t?

Utilising and reporting behaviour changes models in generation of infographic

Chapter

Mental Health Care 

 Chapter 5. Common reactions to stressful situations pages 173 - 201

Online resources for domestic violence

Events and Submissions/Topic

Quiz 2: opens on Thursday at 9am and friday closes at 4pm

Week 9 Begin Date: 09 Sep 2024

Module/Topic

Lecture Topic:

Suicide and intentional self-harm

(DSM-V-TR diagnoses, epidemiology, signs / symptoms, treatment, and relevance for health professionals). What to do for suspected, reported or intentional self-harm

Tutorial Topic:

Caring for a person who has self-harmed

Chapter

Mental Health Care

Chapter 8: Caring for a person who has Self Harmed 

Nugent et al, 2019

Additional Resources

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 10 Begin Date: 16 Sep 2024

Module/Topic

Lecture Topic:

Dementia / neurodegenerative disorders

(DSM-V-TR diagnoses, epidemiology, signs / symptoms, treatment, and relevance for health professionals)

Tutorial Topic:

Caring for an older person with a mental illness

Chapter

Mental Health Care. Chapter 11: 

Caring for an older person with a mental illness pages 432- 456

Australian stories about lived experiences with Dementia

Revise MME

Additional Resources

Events and Submissions/Topic

Infographic Due

Friday 20th September 11:59PM


Infographic Due: Week 10 Friday (20 Sept 2024) 11:59 pm AEST
Week 11 Begin Date: 23 Sep 2024

Module/Topic

Lecture Topic:

Eating disorders

(DSM-V-TR diagnoses, epidemiology, signs / symptoms, treatment, and relevance for health professionals)

Tutorial Topic:

Caring for a person with a serious mental illness

Chapter

Mental Health Care 

Chapter 9: Caring for a person with a serious mental illness page 339-366

Additional Resources

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 12 Begin Date: 30 Sep 2024

Module/Topic

Lecture Topic:

Other salient psychiatric disorders (DSM-V-TR diagnoses and definitions)

Tutorial Topic:

No tutorial

Chapter

SUTE Feedback. 

Events and Submissions/Topic

Quiz 3: opens on Thursday at 9am and friday closes at 4pm

Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 07 Oct 2024

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 14 Oct 2024

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Essay

Assessment Title
Essay

Task Description

The Topic

The experience of low back pain is associated with an individual’s thoughts, feelings, and social environment. The following case describes Izzy, a 50-year-old Indigenous women who presented to a chiropractic clinic with persistent low back pain.

Introducing Izzy

Izzy lives in Brisbane and has presented to a local chiropractor for help regarding his persistent low back pain. During the history, it was revealed that Izzy's back pain had been present for more than 10 years. All medical and orthopaedic investigations identified no consistent structural abnormality that may explain Izzy’s symptoms. Due to the lack of objective findings, Izzy reported that there is nothing that can be done and is unsure why she presented. In addition, due to regular flare ups of her back pain, Izzy no longer engages in any exercise because she finds this aggravates her symptoms.  

Your Task

Based on Izzy’s case, your task is to review the empirical evidence regarding the relationship between relevant psychological factors and chronic pain. In addition, discuss how Izzy's Indigenous background may impact her symptom experience and treatment.

In this assessment, the use of AI is allowed for brainstorming only.


Assessment Due Date

Week 7 Friday (30 Aug 2024) 11:59 pm AEST

submit via Moodle


Return Date to Students

Weighting
40%

Minimum mark or grade
50%

Assessment Criteria

You will be assessed on your review of the empirical evidence on the relationship between psychosocial factors and chronic pain, logic, flow, grammar, the depth of your discussion on outlining how culturally appropriate psychologically informed therapy may help the patient in question. 

 


Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Explain the mental health landscape in Australia
  • Recognise indications that a person might be experiencing mental health challenges from an inclusive and cross cultural perspective
  • Describe the therapeutic options available for people who may be experiencing different types of mental health conditions and/or challenges


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Information Literacy
  • Cross Cultural Competence
  • Ethical practice
  • Social Innovation

2 Online Quiz(zes)

Assessment Title
Online Quizzes

Task Description

There will be three 20 question open book quizzes that will assess the content across the term weeks 1-4 will be assessed in the week 4 quiz, 5-8 will be assessed in the week 8 quiz and weeks 9-12 will be assessed in the week 12 quiz. These will involve a mix of question styles. The quizzes will open on Thursday of weeks 4, 8, and 12 at 9am and close Friday at 4pm.


Number of Quizzes

3


Frequency of Quizzes

Other


Assessment Due Date

These quizzes will be open on Thursday from 9am and close Friday at 4pm of weeks 4, 8 and 12


Return Date to Students

The results will be released via Moodle within 2 weeks of completion.


Weighting
30%

Minimum mark or grade
50

Assessment Criteria

Students will be assessed on their ability to select or provide the correct answers to the questions posed to them from content delivered in weeks 1-4 (Quiz 1), 5-8 (Quiz 2), 9-12 (Quiz 3). 


Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Recognise indications that a person might be experiencing mental health challenges from an inclusive and cross cultural perspective


Graduate Attributes
  • Problem Solving
  • Information Literacy
  • Information Technology Competence
  • Cross Cultural Competence

3 Presentation

Assessment Title
Infographic

Task Description

In this assessment, you will create a one-page, single-sided (A4 size) infographic based on the most up-to-date published evidence for anxiety. This infographic will be displayed in an outpatient chiropractic clinic as a patient resource.

Importantly, the specific aim of the infographic is to persuade patients suffering from anxiety to seek treatment with a psychologist for their symptoms. Informed by models of behaviour change discussed in week 1, create a persuasive and relevant infographic. 

In addition to the infographic, you are to append the following table outlining what behaviour change model(s) were used and the relevant components included which increase the likelihood of a patient to seek care. It is expected that you incorporate multiple components of one or many behaviour change models.

In this assessment, the use of AI is allowed for brainstorming only.


Assessment Due Date

Week 10 Friday (20 Sept 2024) 11:59 pm AEST

Submission is via Moodle


Return Date to Students

Results will be returned via Moodle.


Weighting
30%

Minimum mark or grade
50%

Assessment Criteria

You will be assessed on use of current research, aesthetics, presentation of information in a persuasive manner, accuracy and compliance with the task description. Identification of appropriate change behavioural models and relevance within the required table. Further discussion will take place in the tutorials and a rubric will be provided.


Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Explain the mental health landscape in Australia
  • Describe the therapeutic options available for people who may be experiencing different types of mental health conditions and/or challenges
  • Communicate effectively and considerately with clients of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Information Literacy
  • Team Work
  • Cross Cultural Competence
  • Social Innovation

Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.

What can you do to act with integrity?