This unit focusses on the mental health assessment and care of clients with mental health problems within physical health care settings.

The key areas which are explored are recognition, assessment, monitoring management and support of these clients by healthcare workers not familiar with caring for patients with mental health issues. Included in the unit is an overview of common mental illnesses, management in Emergency Departments, in-patient areas and primary care, and an outline of the legislation relevant to mental health service users in non-mental health settings.

The unit will be delivered through a combination of lectures and classroom seminars with experienced healthcare professionals, along with service users.

Successful completion of this unit will provide you with the skills and knowledge necessary to address the mental health needs of service users in physical health settings.

This course requires 100% attendance.

Learning outcomes

 Having completed this unit the student is expected to:

1. Critically analyse ways in which the mental health of clients will be recognised, assessed, and appropriately referred. 
2. Demonstrate critical evaluation of approaches to supporting and monitoring services users with mental health needs in non-mental health settings 
3. Identify and explicitly define the key presenting features of a range of common mental illnesses 
4. Critically analyse the mental health care skills required in non-mental health settings
5. Explore underpinning research methodologies for critically analysing the assessment and care of a service user

Assessment

ILOs 1 - 4 will be assessed by students critically analysing the assessment and care of a service user by presenting a case study (2000 word equivalent).

ILO 5 An account of the underpinning methodology used when analysing the assessment and care of a service user (1000 words)