California State University, Chico

Department of Health and Community Services

 

Mental and Emotional Health (HCSV 467-01) #6681

Course Syllabus – Fall 2007

 

Instructor: Mary Portis, DrPH

Office: Butte 703C

Office Hours:  Tuesday & Thursday 8:30-9:30am, Wednesday 9:00-12:00

Phone/Voice Mail: 898-4994

E-Mail:mportis@csuchico.edu

(note: when e-mailing me, please put HCSV 467 on the message line)

Fax: 530 -898-5107

Mailbox: Butte 607

Text: Reading materials are available on the web and will be assigned as the semester progresses

Course Description: Examination of nature and factors affecting mental health and positive and negative responses to problems in daily living. Discussion of the types of mental disorders and public health strategies to deal with these problems.

 

Course Objectives:

  1. Identify characteristics and behaviors indicative of good mental health.
  2. Describe events, experiences and environmental factors that can contribute to the risk of mental health problems.
  3. Analyze the impact of mental illness on society.
  4. Identify statistical trends related to mental illness in the U.S. and world.
  5. Prescribe actions one can take to enhance their personal mental health status and resilience.
  6. Analyze the impact of culture and ethnicity on perceptions and treatment of mental health.
  7. Define culturally appropriate mental health promotion strategies that address the needs of family.
  8. Describe symptoms and treatments for major mental illnesses.
  9. Describe the components of the mental healthcare system.
  10. Analyze the effectiveness of the mental healthcare system.
  11. Given a scenario, identify appropriate mental health resources.
  12. Present cutting-edge interventions for individuals with severe mental illness.
  13. Evaluate the influence of culture, family, gender, age, environment and experiences on personal mental health.
  14. Experiment with creative arts therapies – music, writing, and art.
  15. Provide a service to a population coping with mental health problems.

 

Course Schedule: This course addresses the full mental health/illness continuum. Rather than assign an isolated topic to each class section, the topics arise at a variety of times during the semester as highlighted or as auxiliary topics. The table below lists all the topics that will be covered during the semester. This table is followed by a list of important due dates for assignments. Specific directions for the projects will be distributed in another document.

 

 

 

 

 

Mental Health Topics to be Covered

Mental Illness Topics to be Covered

Components of Mental Health

 

Depression

 

Hallmarks of a Mentally Healthy Life

 

Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome

 

Achieving Happiness

 

Bipolar Disorder

 

Dealing with Stress and Anxiety

 

Post-Partum Depression Disorders

 

Altering your perceptions and moods

 

OCD

 

Family Systems, Culture and Mental Health

 

Conduct Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, ADHD

 

Assessing your own mental health

 

Alzheimer’s Disease

 

Creative Therapies and the Creative Spirit

 

Schizophrenia

 

Incorporating positive mental health practices into your life

 

Emergency Mental Health Services

 

Technology and mental health

 

Behavioral Healthcare, support services, outreach assistance

 

Death, Dying, Grief and Loss

 

Outpatient services, transitional programs, partial hospitalization, residential services, rehabilitative services

 

Coping with Chronic Disease

Substance Abuse

 

Important Due Dates

  • Tuesday, Oct. 2                                    Contributions for Alzheimer’s Memory Walk Due
  • Saturday, October 13                          Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk and WindChime of Chico Event, 10:00 a.m. One Mile BBQ Area of Bidwell Park
  • Special Population Presentations  (you will do one of the following):
  • Thursday, October 18                         Homelessness and Mental Health
  • Tuesday, October 23                           Prisons and Jails and Mental Health
  • Thursday, October 25                         Cults and Mental Health                    
  • Tuesday, October 30                           Refugees and Mental Health
  • Week of November 5-9                       Emotions Art Show
  • November 19-23                                   FALL BREAK – No Classes
  • Friday, December 7                              Outreach, Children of Migrant Farm Workers, 3:00-6:00p.m.
  • Tuesday, December 18                        Final Exam, Comprehensive  Self-Assessment Due
  • Written self-assessments are due the class period following their distribution
  • Individual dates will be assigned for Music Therapy Project

 

Course Requirements and Point Values:

Mental Health Self-Assessment Project          200 points

Special Population Presentation                        100 points

Alzheimer’s Project                                              25 points

Music Therapy Project                                       20 points

Art Therapy Project                                             30 points

Outreach Project                                                  25 points

Attendance and Participation                            30 points