Class Descriptions

Mental Health and Mental Disorders of Children and Youth

SW612

Credits:	3
Prerequisites:	None

Pathway Associations

Community Change
Global
Interpersonal Practice	Elective (Host)
Mgmt & Leadership
Policy & Political
Program Evaluation
Older Adults
Children & Families	Elective

Course Description

This course is open to student learners in the health science areas including social work, nursing, pharmacy, and dentistry. This course will present state-of-the-art knowledge and research of mental disorders of children and youth, as well as factors that promote mental health, and prevent mental disorders and substance related problems. Using a clinical case discussion format, this class will highlight mental health diagnoses, comorbidity, and team collaboration across health professions. Social determinants of health/mental health will be used as an organizing framework for discussing the impact of factors associated with health and mental health across diverse cultures, groups and populations. Classification systems of child and youth functioning and disorders will be presented, such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fifth Edition (DSM-5), Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood: DC: 0-5, and the Individuals with Disability Education Act (IDEA). Students will be taught to critically understand both the strengths and limitations of these classification systems and how to use these systems in practice. Competencies related to teamwork and collaboration, values and ethics, and communication will be addressed.

Objectives

● Assess the major features and the natural history of the most common mental disorders and disorders with the greatest impact on families, schools, and the public systems of care (EPAS 1, 2, 6, 7, 8).
● Analyze the diagnostic system as a generalizable framework for assessing, evaluating, and diagnosing children and youth with mental health concerns (EPAS 6, 7, 8).
● Evaluate ethical and diversity considerations and strengths and limitations regarding the development and application of classification systems (EPAS 1, 2, 6, 7, 8)
● Investigate the impact of mental health, health, and substance-related problems within a co- and multi-morbidity, and differential diagnosis framework (EPAS 6, 7, 8).
● Apply evidence-informed best practices and available interventions and treatments for mental health disorders of children and youth (EPAS 7, 8).
● Analyze critical perspectives and bias, intersectionality, and cultural humility to conceptualize cases (EPAS 2, 5, 6).
● Apply key interprofessional practice team skills to effectively communicate and collaborate across disciplines and shared care relationships (EPAS 2, 6, 7, 8, 9).

Design

The objectives of the course will be pursued through readings, lectures, clinical team discussions, case studies and presentations, videos, and guest lectures

Intensive Focus on Privilege, Oppression, Diversity and Social Justice (PODS)

This course integrates PODS content and skills with a special emphasis on the identification of theories, practice, and/or policies that promote social justice, illuminate social injustices and are consistent with scientific and professional knowledge. Through the use of a variety of instructional methods, this course will support students developing a vision of social justice, learn to recognize and reduce mechanisms that support oppression and injustice, work toward social justice processes, apply intersectionality and intercultural frameworks and strengthen critical consciousness, self knowledge and self awareness to facilitate PODS learning.