Course overview
The aim of this course is to advance the knowledge, skills and attitudes of health professionals to achieve evidence based best practice in assessing and supporting the mental health of adolescents. Contemporary, evidence-based theories of adolescent development and implications for adolescent mental health; trauma informed and recovery focused care; common mental health challenges experienced by cultural, gender, and ability diverse adolescents; lived experience perspectives; comprehensive narrative based mental health assessment of adolescents; mental health risk assessment; contemporary mental health assessment tools; early intervention in adolescent mental health; best practice trauma informed biopsychosocial interventions for different forms of mental illness in adolescents including de-escalation and other supportive interventions; principles and strategies of adolescent friendly mental health care; planning , implementing an evaluating adolescent friendly mental health care; adolescent mental health care coordination; codes, ethics, standards, guidelines, legislation and reform agendas in mental health practice; quality improvement and best practice in mental health care; health promotion; clinical supervision models; strategies to promote resilience; the role of leadership in providing optimal mental health care.
Course learning outcomes
- Critically appraise and apply contemporary theories, principles and care frameworks to promote holistic evidence based mental health care for adolescents.
- Demonstrate an applied understanding of the ethical, legislative, regulatory and policy obligations of health professionals to support and promote the mental health care of adolescents.
- Describe common mental health challenges experienced by adolescents, in the context of developmental aspects and lived experience.
- Conduct a comprehensive, evidence-based health assessment of an adolescent with a focus on mental health.
- Identify best practice biopsychosocial interventions for different forms of mental ill-health in adolescents.
- Plan, implement and evaluate holistic, person-centred adolescent friendly mental health care.
- Critically reflect on and challenge, own and the practice of others to lead and promote best practice in adolescent mental health.