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Unit of study_

SCWK6952: Critical Perspectives on Mental Health

2024 unit information

This unit of study introduces a range of perspectives and key contemporary debates in mental health policy and practice. Students develop knowledge relating to an ecological framework of mental health, statutory and professional power negotiated by social workers within the mental health field, social work advocacy in mental health policy and practice, and the importance of lived experience knowledge. Areas of mental health that are examined include psychosis, self-harm and suicidality, trauma and addiction, and child and adolescent wellbeing.

Unit details and rules

Managing faculty or University school:

Arts and Social Sciences

Study level Postgraduate
Academic unit Social Work
Credit points 6
Prerequisites:
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None
Corequisites:
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None
Prohibitions:
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None
Assumed knowledge:
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None

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. analyse key contemporary debates in mental health policy and practice
  • LO2. demonstrate an ability to conceptualise mental distress through social and critical mental health perspectives
  • LO3. articulate complex practice issues relating to the statutory and professional power negotiated by social workers within the mental health field
  • LO4. identify opportunities for social work advocacy in mental health policy and practice
  • LO5. combine social work and critical theories, lived experience knowledge, and the contributions of the user-survivor movement into a transformed framework for mental health practice
  • LO6. critically reflect on your experience and knowledge of the mental health field, and identify areas for future development.

Unit availability

This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.

The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.

Session MoA ?  Location Outline ? 
Semester 1 2024
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Session MoA ?  Location Outline ? 
Semester 1a 2020
Block mode Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 1 2022
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 1 2022
Normal day Remote
Intensive May 2023
Block mode Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Intensive May 2023
Block mode Remote

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Modes of attendance (MoA)

This refers to the Mode of attendance (MoA) for the unit as it appears when you’re selecting your units in Sydney Student. Find more information about modes of attendance on our website.