Course Proposal for Portland State University
School of Community Health
Course Title: Mental
Health in the Community and the Community in Mental Health
Instructor: David Pollack, MD
Brief Program Description: A
lecture, seminar, and interactive discussion type course focusing on the types
of mental health problems individuals and communities experience. The emphasis will be on how to address these
problems from a community and policy perspective.
Catalog Description: This
course will introduce the student to community and public mental health
principles and practice. There will be
a strong emphasis on the integration and interdependency of mental health and
physical health; the impact of social, cultural, and political factors; and the
roles of public health officials and policy makers.
Objectives:
1.
To increase awareness of
the impact of mental illness in our society and the society’s impact on the
incidence, course, and outcome of mental illness.
2.
To demonstrate the
interrelationship of mental and physical factors in individual functioning,
societal attitudes, and health system design.
3.
To underscore the role
of families, community organizations, and policy makers.
4.
To understand the
social, cultural, and political dynamics of community mental health issues.
Instructional Format:
Didactic presentations with plenty of time for interactive discussions. There will also be assigned research
projects which students will present for further elucidation and discussion of
selected topics.
Course Outline:
|
Session
# |
Topic |
Format |
|
1 |
Overview
of community mental health principles, esp. focusing on prevention,
biopsychosocial perspective, and parity |
Lecture,
discussion |
|
2 |
Psychiatric
epidemiology and service delivery: access, disparity, and social/economic
factors |
Lecture,
discussion |
|
3 |
Relationships,
social isolation, social networks, and supports |
Lecture,
discussion |
|
4 |
Student
projects: Epidemiology and service delivery |
Group
presentations |
|
5 |
Work,
productivity, self-esteem, paternalism |
Lecture,
discussion |
|
6 |
Student
projects: Relationships, social networks |
Group
presentations |
|
7 |
Cultural
and ethnic issues |
Lecture,
discussion |
|
8 |
Student
projects: Work and self-esteem |
Group
presentations |
|
9 |
Housing
and homelessness |
Lecture,
discussion |
|
10 |
Student
projects: Cultural and ethnic issues |
Group
presentations |
|
11 |
Addictions
and mental health |
Lecture,
discussion |
|
12 |
Student
projects: Housing and homelessness |
Group
presentations |
|
13 |
Corrections
system issues |
Lecture,
discussion |
|
14 |
Student
projects: Addictions issues |
Group
presentations |
|
15 |
Politics
of mental health |
Lecture,
discussion |
|
16 |
Student projects:
Corrections issues Course
evaluation |
Group
presentations |