Outline

Overview

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

Unit code	SCWK6952
Academic unit	Social Work
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	None
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Sacha Jamieson, sacha.jamieson@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Final essay Major essay	40%	Formal exam period Due date: 05 Jun 2023 at 23:59	2500 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Final essay plan Written task	5%	Please select a valid week from the list below Due date: 15 May 2023 at 23:59	500 words equivalent
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Critical Reflection Visual representation and critical reflection essay	25%	Week 10 Due date: 01 May 2023 at 23:59	1500 words equivalent
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Group project pamphlet, report, in-class presentation	30%	Week 13 Due date: 26 May 2023 at 23:59	1500 words equivalent
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ? = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Reflection: You are required to portray both your current knowledge and your learning goals, exploring your prior and current exposure to mental health concepts. You should identify the influences of professional knowledges, popular commentary and/or lived experiences. Draw on ideas from at least three set readings to strengthen your analysis of the knowledge, skills and experience that you bring to this unit of study and any potential gaps in knowledge.
Groupwork: In small groups, choose a contemporary mental health awareness campaign to examine in detail. Drawing on readings, analyse the strengths and limitations of your chosen campaign. Design a pamphlet that re-frames the campaign and is informed by critical mental health theories and provide a report on Canvas that briefly describes your critique of the original campaign, the rationale for your chosen approach and the evidence that supports your chosen approach. Groups will present their work to the class in the last two seminars.
Major essay plan: This is to ensure that you have received good feedback about your progress during the semester (rather than only at the conclusion of the semester).
Major essay: “One cannot hope to understand the phenomena of psychological distress, nor begin to think what can be done about them, without an analysis of how power is distributed and exercised within society” (David Smail). Using this quote as a starting point, offer a critical analysis of dominant discourses of mental distress.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100
Distinction	75 - 84
Credit	65 - 74
Pass	50 - 64
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	1. Introduction to critical perspectives on mental health: individualised and politicised; 2. Labeling, stigma/pathologisation and oppression within mental health services; 3. Understanding psychiatric diagnosis and mental health assessment processes; 4. Mental distress and social determinants theorisations	Seminar (4 hr)
Week 02	1. Contested understandings of psychosis; 2. Trauma-informed and recovery perspectives	Seminar (4 hr)
Week 03	1. Contested understandings of risk 2. Impacts for families and friends of mental health service involvement 3. Responding to people experiencing acute distress and crisis	Seminar (4 hr)
Week 04	1. Critical perspectives on suicide and self-harm 2. Social determinants of mental distress in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; 3. Responses to mental distress at different levels (medical, therapeutic, group and community-based responses)	Seminar (4 hr)
Week 05	1. Critical perspectives on child and adolescent mental distress and diagnosing practices; 2. The social work role in bringing social justice perspectives to medical, therapeutic, and community contexts of practice	Seminar (4 hr)
Week 06	1. Groupwork: presentation of work to peers; 2. Conclusions and "where to from here?"	Seminar (4 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: The Sydney School of Education and Social Work requires attendance of at least 90 percent of all seminars, workshops or lectures. Where a student is unable to attend at the required rate evidence of illness or misadventure may be required and the student may be required to undertake extra work. Students should discuss the circumstances of their absence(s) with the co-ordinator of the unit of study. Further details are provided in the School canvas site: https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/13426

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Reading List available on Canvas.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

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 an array of client presentations through ecological 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.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Students who completed the USS in 2022 commended the creative assessments and guest lectures, and so this approach has been taken again this semester.

Additional information

Site visit guidelines

If you are undertaking professional experience/field education placement as part of your enrolment in this unit of study, please assess your specific needs and requirements for the safe and successful completion of an external placement within a host organization. You will be given the opportunity to disclose any health issues that have a work health and safety significance before arranging a placement so that your safety, and the safety of others, can be properly assessed. The Professional Experience Coordinator/Field Education Manager will work to ensure that the workplace assignment to you is appropriate for your needs and requirements. If you are experiencing disability, and require reasonable adjustments to be arranged, please contact Disability Services as early as possible prior to commencing the internship. Please note, in all cases, and for the purpose of organizing reasonable adjustments, only the impact and not the nature, of your disability will be disclosed to the host organization.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Site visit guidelines

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

SCWK6952: Critical Perspectives on Mental Health

Intensive May, 2023 [Block mode] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Site visit guidelines

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect