ERGO2000 Mental Health and Participation Course description

Mental health, social conditions, life in the city and a multicultural environment affect people's options for participating in activity, social groups and the community. Participation is of great importance when it comes to people's mental health and social integration. In a society characterised by rapid movement, marginalised groups and their right to activity and participation deserves particular attention. Occupational therapists help people who encounter psychological and social challenges in mastering daily life and participating in society.

The course consists of the following subject areas from the national curriculum, specified below as the number of credits:

• Ideas, theory and experience (1 ECTS)
• Research and development in occupational therapy (1 ECTS)
• Health-promoting and preventive work (1 ECTS)
• Rehabilitative work (1 ECTS)
• Therapeutic work (1 ECTS)
• Illness and disability (3 ECTS)
• Sociology and social anthropology (3 ECTS)
• Psychology and pedagogy, communication, interaction and conflict work (3 ECTS)
• Ethics (1 ECTS)

Passed the first year of the programme.

After completing the course, the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and competence:

Knowledge

The student is capable of

• using theory of social science to shed light on how social and cultural conditions can affect a person's mental health and their participation in activity and society
• giving an account of conditions that promote and inhibit participation in activity and society among vulnerable groups
• describing common mental health disorders
• describing the consequences of mental health disorders and crises on activity and participation
• referring to new research within occupational therapy aimed at promoting mental health
• reflecting on and discussing occupational therapy interventions aimed at promoting mental health
• explaining relevant fields for occupational therapists in the mental health field
• explaining communication theory used in mental health care
• describing the history of occupational therapy relating to mental health

Skills

The student is capable of

• using conceptual models in occupational therapy and relevant theories to understand activity and daily life among people with mental health issues
• finding, evaluating, presenting and referring to relevant theory and research in order to shed light on an academic issue
• using different methods of mapping and evaluating activity and participation among people with mental health disorders, individually and in groups
• planning, facilitating and testing therapeutic activities as interventions for people with mental health problems, individually and in groups
• using //modes of expression as therapeutic aids
• demonstrating therapeutic communication skills

Competence

The student is capable of

• identifying, discussing and reflecting on ethical challenges in mental health care
• presenting and discussing ethical issues in light of professional ethical guidelines
• reflecting on their own communication and interaction
• showing responsibility, initiative, ability to cooperate and independence

Work and teaching methods comprise lectures, seminars and skills training combined with student work in groups or individually. Student work includes written portfolio assignments, and group work with examples of case studies which are presented and discussed at seminars. The students are supervised by the lecturer.

A minimum attendance of 80% is required in the introduction to the course, skills training, supervision, seminars and compulsory group work.

Students must meet the compulsory attendance requirements in order to sit the exam.

Exam content: The learning outcomes

Exam form: Individual home exam over 3 days, maximum 4,000 word.

Time: Third semester

All

Grade scale A - F.

One external and one internal examiner will assess 20% of the exam papers. The remaining papers are assessed by one internal examiner. The external examiner's assessment shall benefit all the students.