PSYCHOL 6503OL - Psychological Health & Wellbeing

Online - Online Teaching 2 - 2021

What does it mean to be healthy and in what ways can psychological health be enhanced or compromised? This course provides an introduction to evidence-based assessment, treatment and prevention. You will form a holistic view of individuals, recognising their behaviours and experiences, from a biopsychosocial perspective. Select topics in mental health, the biological bases of health and behaviour, as well as applications in the fields of Clinical and Health Psychology, will be presented.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code PSYCHOL 6503OL
    Course Psychological Health & Wellbeing
    Coordinating Unit Psychology
    Term Online Teaching 2
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s Online
    Units 3
    Contact 1 to 2 hour online tutorial
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Prerequisites PSYCHOL 6500OL and PSYCHOL 6501OL
    Restrictions Graduate Diploma in Psychology or Graduate Certificate in Psychology
    Assessment Online Assessments and Written Assignments
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Christopher Bean

    Email: jen.fish@adelaide.edu.au
    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

    Full details of each week's activities can be found in MyUni.
  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes

    1. Explain features of good psychological health and characteristics of select mental health conditions.

    2. Synthesise key principles of evidence-based assessment, treatment and prevention of select mental health conditions.

    3. Apply a biopsychosocial perspective to health and wellbeing.

    4. Critically evaluate theory and research in the field of health and wellbeing.

    5. Communicate relevant health and wellbeing-related information to varied audiences.

    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1,2 ,3, 4, 5
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    1, 2, 3, 4, 5
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    3, 4, 5
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    3, 4, 5
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    2, 3
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    1, 2, 3
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    This is a fully online offering. Students will require access to the internet to access course content, readings, assessments, and to engage in online tutorials (via zoom). All required readings, including the online text-books, will be provided within course modules. If you wish to also purchase hard copies of the textbooks, please find the details in ‘Recommended Resources’. 


    Recommended Resources
    Hungerford, C., Hodgson, F., Bostwick, R., Clancy, R., Murphy, G., De Jong, G., & Ngune, I. (2018). Mental Health Care (3rd ed.). Wiley.

    Passer, M.W. & Smith, R.E. (2019). Psychology: The Science of Mind and Behaviour. (3rd Ed). McGraw-Hill.

    Spielman, R.M., Jenkins, W., Lacombe, A., Lovett, M., & Perlmutter, M. (2014). Psychology. Openstax.
    Online Learning
    This is a fully online offering. MyUni will be used for all course materials, communication, links to curated resources, online tutorial support and assignments including submissions, feedback and grades.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Engagement with course content is facilitated by online presentations, interactive online activities, curated readings and resources, and self directed research and study supported by weekly online tutorial sessions. There are 6 Weekly Modules with learning scaffolded across the modules to ensure that students develop deep discipline knowledge as well as the academic literacy, research skills and capacity to apply and communicate their understanding as specified for an AQF8 level offering.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    This course is a 6-week intensive, accelerated learning offering. Students should expect to spend around 24-25 hours per week engaging with the online content, in private study, attending online tutorials and completing the assignments for this course.

    Hours per Week:
    1.5 Hours - Tutorial
    1 Hour - Tutorial Preparation
    9 Hours - Assessment related tasks
    10 Hours - Engaging with online content including video presentations, podcasts, directed research activities, discussions, interactive tasks
    3 Hours - Readings
    Learning Activities Summary
    Weekly module topics are:

    1. High prevalence mental health conditions
        -Key concepts,definitions, classification systems, introduction to CBT
        -Affective and mood disorders
        -Substance use disorders
        -National standards and ethics

    2. Low prevalence mental  health conditions
        -Obsessive compulsive disorder
        -Psychotic disorders and Schizophrenia
        -Dissociative disorders
        -Somatic symptom disorders & eating disorders
         
    3. Critically reviewing and communicating mental health theory and research
        -Critical evaluation
        -Stakeholders and channels for communication
        -Communicating with varied audiences

    4. Biological bases of health and wellbeing
        -Nervous and endocrine systems
        -Biological bases of stress
        -Neuropsychology: brain injury

    5. Health Psychology
        -Key concepts
        -Biopsychosocial perspective
        - Individuals and populations
        -Applying psychology to understanding and treating chronic pain

    6. Psychology applications in health care
       - Cognitions in health and wellbeing
        -Sociology of health and illness
        -Cross-cultural aspects of wellbeing
    Specific Course Requirements
    Nil
    Small Group Discovery Experience
    N/A
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Task Type Due Weighting Learning Outcome
    MCQ  Formative and Summative

    Sunday 11:59pm weekly

    30% 1,2,3
    Critical essay on mental health assessment and treatment Summative Sunday 11:59pm Week 4 35% 1,2,3,4,5
    Brochure and justification report Summative Sunday 11:59pm Week 6 35% 1,2,3,4,5
    Assessment Related Requirements
    Submission via Turnitin. All assignments are due by 11:59pm on the Sunday at the end of the week in which they are due. A penalty of 5% per day applies for late submissions.

    Extensions are granted on medical, compassionate or other special circumstances recognised under the University’s Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy. The completed extension application form and any documentation (such as a medical or counsellor's certification) should be emailed to the course coordinator and submitted before the due date. The course coordinator will consider the request in the light of the case made and University deadlines, and may grant an extension of up to three days.
    Assessment Detail
    Assessment 1: MCQ (6% each -total 30% due weeks 1,2,4,5,6).
    In these quizzes you will demonstrate your understanding and application of the core content of modules 1,2,4,5 and 6. 

    Assessment 2: Critical essay (35% due week 4, 1500 words).
    You will summarise and critically evaluate theory and research related to a mental health condition (topic details to be determined in the course). The essay will focus on the assessment and treatment of the condition, and you will prepare for an academic audience -e.g researchs or healthcare professionals.

    Assessment 3: Two parts (35% due week 6).
    Part 1: (500 words, 20%). You will prepare a brochure suitable for presentation to members of the public. Your brochure will present information about the evidence-based prevention and/or treatment approach for either a mental health concern or a physical health condition, from the perspective of psychology. Details to be provided in the course.
    Part 2: (750 words, 15%). You will prepare a short report for an academic audience reflecting upon and justifying the choices you have made in preparing the content for the brochure.
    Submission
    Online submission via Turnitin
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.