Mental Distress: Social Contexts
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| SOCW4016 | Social Work | 4 | 10 | Autumn UK |
- Code
- SOCW4016
- School
- Social Work
- Level
- 4
- Credits
- 10
- Semesters
- Autumn UK
Summary
This module invites students to critically explore concepts of mental distress with a focus on social perspectives. The dominant medically orientated paradigm of mental ‘illness’, diagnosis, detention and pharmaceutical ‘treatment’ will be critically explored, with consideration given to contrasting frameworks of meaning and input from ‘experts by experience’. An historical overview of societal responses to mental distress; current debates and wider bio-psycho-social contexts will be explored, with an emphasis on power dynamics and the social work role.
Target Students
Only available for MA Social Work students or PGDip Social Work students.
Classes
This module is comprised of 'Workshop Style' teaching (part lecture, part student participation), involving external contributors who have lived experience of mental distress.
Assessment
- 100% Presentation: 15 minutes.
Assessed by end of autumn semester
Educational Aims
The aims of the module are to:Invite students to critically explore concepts of mental distress with a focus on social perspectives. Students will be enabled to listen to the voices of those with lived experience of mental distress first-hand as a powerful means of informing their future social work practice.Encourage students to reflectively align themselves with the social work values base in relation to their use of statutory authority and have a thoughtful awareness of the power inherent within their role. For instance, students will explore the tensions between ‘care’ and ‘control’ in social work practice.Augment students’ knowledge of the practical application of legislation and policy guidance in relation to mental health, mental capacity and human rights.Develop students’ awareness of how people experiencing mental distress can be supported to self-advocate, develop ‘social capital’, access appropriate services and define their own narrative. Explore the potential of the ‘Power Threat Meaning Framework’ (PTMF) to inform and enhance values-based social work practice with people who experience mental distress.Invite students to develop their personal and professional reflective skills, awareness of relationship-based, trauma-informed social work and narrative approaches in order to enhance their practice.Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate a robust understanding of trauma-informed social work and power dynamics in relation to people who experience mental distress.
- Demonstrate a sound understanding and practical application of the Power Threat Meaning Framework (PTMF) as informed by social perspectives on mental distress.
- Show awareness of how they will incorporate their own social work values base and abide by ethical conduct in their practice.
- Demonstrate a practice-based awareness of the tensions between ‘care’ and ‘control’, with a focus on relationship-based approaches.
- Use their knowledge of legislative and policy contexts in mental health to inform their practice.
- Demonstrate awareness of how people experiencing mental distress can be supported to self-advocate, develop ‘social capital’, access appropriate services and define their own narrative.