Topic outline
- General
- Topic 1
Topic 1
Introduction to Mental Health
Mental health as a public health priority
Mental illness is common
The burden of mental illness
No health without mental health
Mental health and poverty
Stigma, discrimination and abuse
The biopsychosocial model
Explanatory models and cultural context
The treatment gap
Mental healthcare and the Health Service
- Topic 2
Topic 2
Assessing a Person with Mental Illness
How common are mental health problems?
The severity of mental illnesses
Priority mental health disorders
When to suspect a mental health problem
Common symptoms of severe mental illness
What to look out for in a person with SMI
Assessing the general risks from mental illness
The main risks in mental illness
Assessing the risk of suicide and self-harm
Questions to ask someone who has self-harmed
Asking about possible suicide when someone has a mental illness
- Topic 3
Topic 3
General Management Principles in Mental Health Care
General approaches to people with mental health problems
Listening with interest
Acceptance people’s beliefs
Interest in individuals
Encouraging emotional expression
Reassurance
Non-judgemental attitude
Maintain confidentiality
Management of people with mental illness
Identification of people with mental illness in the community
Care of people with emergency mental health conditions
Referral
Follow-up
- Topic 4
Topic 4
When Somebody has Low Mood or Depression
What depression is and why it is important
How to assess a person with depression
What causes depression?
Grief and depression
Mood disorders in the postnatal period
What can you do when you suspect someone has depression?
Determining how bad the depression is
What you do next
What you should know about medication
What you should know about the course of depression
What you should tell a person with depression
Exploring why the person might have become unwell
What happens after you refer the person
Be prepared to discuss whatever questions the person may have
- Topic 5
Topic 5
Psychoses
What are psychoses?
The effects of psychosis
Classification of psychoses
Acute psychoses
Signs and symptoms of acute psychoses
Chronic psychoses
Signs and symptoms of chronic psychoses
Recurrent psychoses
Signs and symptoms of recurrent psychoses
Organic psychoses
Signs and symptoms of acute organic psychoses
Signs and symptoms of chronic organic psychoses
Early recognition and identification of psychoses
Referral
The management of psychoses
Management of acute psychoses
Management of chronic psychoses
Management of recurrent psychoses
Management of organic psychoses
Management algorithm
- Topic 6
Topic 6
Substance Use Problems
Substance use problems
Why do people initiate substance use?
How substances affect the brain
Alcohol use
Immediate effects of alcohol use
Long-term complications of alcohol use
Withdrawal effects of alcohol use
Identification of people with drinking problems
Management of people with alcohol-related problems
When you should refer a person
Other advice you can give your local community
Tobacco use problems
Immediate effects of tobacco use
Long-term effects of tobacco use
Withdrawal effects of tobacco
Khat abuse
Immediate effects of khat use
Long-term effects of khat use
Withdrawal effects of khat use
Cannabis (hashish or marijuana)
Immediate effects of cannabis
Long-term effects of cannabis
Withdrawal symptoms of cannabis
Identification of people with tobacco, khat or cannabis use problems
Management of people with cigarette, khat and cannabis use problems
When to refer for these substances
- Topic 7
Topic 7
Epilepsy and Dementia
Epilepsy
Types of seizure
Features of seizures
Attitudes towards epilepsy
The causes of epilepsy
Emergency treatment for epilepsy
Drug treatment of epilepsy
Reasons for referral
Dementia
Treatments for dementia
Prevention of dementia
- Topic 8
Topic 8
Mental Health Problems in Daily Life
Physical complaints without an identifiable medical cause
Physical complaints without an identifiable medical cause: what can you do to help?
Anxiety disorders: worries that seem too much
Difficulty with sleep
Violence, accidents and mental health
Mental health problems due to life-threatening violence or accidents
Intimate partner (‘domestic’) violence
- Topic 9
Topic 9
When Children Have Problems
When children develop normally
A child who develops slowly
What causes intellectual disability?
What can you do when you suspect ID?
Educating parents
Sexual adjustment
Preventing ID
Enuresis
How common is enuresis and what is its impact?
What causes enuresis?
Treatment of enuresis
Child abuse
What do you do if you suspect child abuse?
Other childhood problems
- Topic 10
Topic 10
Prevention and Promotion Activities for Mental Health
Raising awareness about mental health
What are we trying to achieve?
Mental health promotion and primary prevention
Promoting a happy, healthy childhood
Reducing exposure to violence
Reducing alcohol and khat use
Coping with life's problems
Secondary prevention: screening and early treatment
Screening for specific mental illnesses
Getting early treatment for mental illness
Suicide prevention
Tertiary prevention: reducing the negative impact of mental illness
Nutrition and physical health
Helping people who are restrained
Living a normal life
An awareness-raising meeting in the community
Who needs to know?
How do I raise awareness within the community?
- Topic 11
Topic 11
Disability and Community Rehabilitation
Models of disability
The charity model
The medical model
The social model
The human rights model
Types of impairments
Mobility and physical impairments
Sensory impairments
Intellectual impairments
Multiple impairments
Appropriate and acceptable language
Appropriate and inappropriate terms
Communication with people who have impairments
Myths and facts about disability
Situation of disability in developing countries
The twin- track approach
Mainstream programmes and services
Disability-specific programmes and services
UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities