California State University, Chico

Department of Health and Community Services

 

Mental and Emotional Health (HCSV 467-01) #5852

Course Syllabus – Spring 2009

Tues/Thurs. 11:00-12:15; Butte 205

 

Instructor: Mary Portis, DrPH

Office: Butte 607

Office Hours:  

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 throughout the semester.

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 and Hallmarks of Mental Health

Depression; Suicide

Relationships and Mental Health

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; Dementia

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

 

Special Conference Topics               

Homelessness and Mental Health                                                    April 2

Prisons and Jails and Mental Health                                                                April 7

Cults and Mental Health                                                                     April 9   

Refugees and Mental Health                                                             April 14

The Military (soldiers and their families) and Mental Health       April 16

Sexual Orientation and Mental Health                                              April 21

Assisted Suicide and Mental Health                                                                April 23

Mental Health in these Economic times                                           April 28

               

Course Requirements and Point Values:

Exam 1                                                                                                    50 points                March 12

Final Exam                                                                                             100 points              May 21; 10:00 a.m.

Mental Health Self-Assessment/Enhancement Project                 200 points              Every week

Mental Health Conference Project                                                    100 points              Dates above

Music Therapy Project                                                                       20 points               Sign up

Community Activism Project                                                             30 points               May 2

Contributing to a Greater Good Project                                            20 points              

Attendance and Participation                                                            30 points

 

Grades are assigned on a straight scale based on the total number of possible points (550).

550 - 495 = A

494 - 440 = B

439 - 385 = C

384 - 330 = D

329 – below = F

 

Music Therapy:                    Everyday, regardless of what is happening in our lives, we can elevate our

spirits through a variety of positive actions. Listening to music daily (any kind of music as long as it is

appealing to you) has shown to significantly elevate mood. Select 10 songs that are sure-shot mood

elevators for you and record them on a CD. Make a copy for each class member. Provide a list of the song

titles and the recording artist on the envelope or case. This is not a “relaxation CD”, it is a collection of

songs that you can listen to over and over; your favorites; songs that you respond positively to each time

you hear them. You may include more than 10 songs. Each week you will receive a different CD to test for

its music therapy effectiveness for you. After listening to the CD, write a note to its creator commenting of

songs you found enjoyable or ways the songs connect to your life.

 

Mental Health Conference Report:

Form a group of three and choose one of the following topics. With your group prepare an interactive 45

minute presentation.

Homelessness and Mental Health

Prisons and Jails and Mental Health

Cults and Mental Health                    

Refugees and Mental Health

The Military (soldiers and their families) and Mental Health

Sexual Orientation and Mental Health                                                                                                                             

Assisted Suicide and Mental Health

Mental Health in these Economic times

You will be given specific questions to answer in your presentation but all presentations should include:

1. A description of the problems and the target population.

2. Essential Facts/statistics put on a handout for distribution. (do not read statistics to the class)

3. Description (what, who, when, where, how, why) of any interventions/programs or services related to the topic.

4. An opportunity to analyze personal and societal values and attitudes related to the topic.

 

Grading Criteria:

Accuracy of information                                      Depth of research                               thought-provoking

Organization of content                                      Use of media/visual aids                     Creativity

Inclusion of class participation                         Use of time                                            Breath of content

Practicality of information                                  Presentation Style

                                                                               

Suggestions:

--Be visual. Pictures are better than text.

--Do NOT prepare a power point presentation that has multiple bullets.

--Do NOT read from web sites.

--Make sure the printing on visual aids is large enough.

--Do NOT read to the class.

--Know your presentation - speak without reading or looking at your notes.

- Use U-Tube and other media

--Involve the class in a discussion, values activity, information game, etc.

--Prepare for your presentation over the weeks allotted

 

Mental Health Assessment/Enhancement Project:

In each class meeting you will be asked to analyze and assess your own life, experiences, values, hopes and

skills in relation to the topics presented, both verbally and in written form. Outside of class, on your own

time, you will continue the self-assessment process using the guidelines provided in class. Each part of this

assessment (both in class and at-home) is recorded in a journal. This journal is used in every class

meeting.

 

Community Activism Project: We are bringing our message to Chico and the greater Butte and Tehama County areas through participation in the Celebration of People/Pioneer Days Parade. Saturday, May 2

 

Contributing to a Greater Good Project: Helping build a school in Laos. More details later.

 

Exams: Both exams are objective in format (multiple choice, true/false, matching) and require a scantron form 882 (long thin form).