Mental Health and Illness Across the Lifespan

In this course, students will examine the constructs of mental health and mental illness. They will analyze factors that contribute to the development, expression, and course of mental illness, including genetics, brain functioning, developmental level, self, relatedness, and social and physical environments. Students will examine factors that modify behavior, cognition, and emotion and promote restoration of health and functioning. Students will conduct psychosocial assessments, develop evidence-based prevention and intervention strategies, and evaluate achievement of outcomes for individuals, families, and groups across the lifespan. Students will also examine systems in which mental health care is provided and the availability of relevant resources. Ethical and legal concerns related to mental health care will be integrated throughout the course. There will be opportunities for students to engage with different teaching modalities, including web-based, case study, group work, and didactic presentations. Clinical experiences will take place in a variety of institutional and community settings.  10 weeks