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Module Catalogue

MS928-20 Mental Health in Children and Adolescents

Department
Warwick Medical School
Level
Taught Postgraduate Level
Module leader
John Davey
Credit value
20
Module duration
9 weeks
Assessment
100% coursework
Study location
Distance or Online Delivery

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Introductory description

This module explores the relationship between brain development, mental health, and behaviour in young people. Students will examine current research and evidence-based practices for assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health disorders in children and adolescents and gain an understanding of how biopsychosocial and neurological factors impact mental health in this population.

Module web page

Module aims

To understand neurodevelopment and mental health in young populations, and to refine approaches to assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health disorders in this population.

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

The outline syllabus gives an indication of the topics that will be covered in the module.

  1. Risk and Protective factors exploring neurodevelopment, familial and social factors their influences on mental health in children and adolescents.
  2. Early detection and intervention of mental health and behavioural disorders in young people.
  3. The impact of trauma and stress on children and adolescents
  4. Understanding and managing common mental health and behavioural disorders in children and adolescents.
  5. The role of schools, guardians, and the community in promoting good mental health.
  6. Ethical considerations in child and adolescent mental health.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

  • Analyse the influence of neurodevelopment on mental health in children and adolescents.
  • Critically evaluate strategies for early detection and intervention of mental health and behavioural disorders in young people.
  • Create a comprehensive plan for managing a common mental health disorder in children or adolescents.
  • Critically appraise the impact of trauma and stress on children and adolescents, examining social determinants of mental health and how stress and trauma influence neurodevelopment.
  • Critically evaluate the role of schools, guardians, and the community in promoting mental health.
  • Create a strategy for addressing ethical considerations in child and adolescent mental health.

Interdisciplinary

The understanding of mental health necessitates collaboration across disciplines, and it is appropriate that this is reflected in the course. The module is designed to appeal to a range of professionals, including medical, nursing, counselling, pharmaceutical, bioscience and other disciplines engaged in promoting good mental health.

International

The course will recruit from (and be delivered in) multiple territories, and the content will be tailored to the students’ own territories, reflecting local and international standards and approaches to understanding and promoting good mental health.

Subject specific skills

Subject-specific skills that will be obtained from the module include:

  • Ability to recognise developmental stages and their neurobiological markers.
  • Ability to identify age-specific mental health challenges in young populations.
  • Proficiency in designing age-appropriate interventions.

Transferable skills

Improvement of a range of transferable skills, including:

  • Written communication.
  • Oral communication.
  • Organisation and time management.
  • Independence and initiative.

Study time

Type Required
Online learning (scheduled sessions) 30 sessions of 1 hour (15%)
Online learning (independent) 130 sessions of 1 hour (65%)
Assessment 40 hours (20%)
Total 200 hours

Private study description

No private study requirements defined for this module.

Costs

No further costs have been identified for this module.

You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.

Assessment group A
Weighting Study time Eligible for self-certification
Assessment component
Simulated parental / guardian meeting around a child / adolescent mental health issue. 30% 15 hours Yes (extension)

Students will be given information about a particular child or adolescent mental health issue. They will then prepare and carry out a mock meeting with an actor playing the role of a parent or guardian in which they will explain a clinical diagnosis or outline a care plan (as appropriate). The meeting will be recorded.
Colleagues at iheed use this form of assessment regularly on their courses with the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland.
Reassessment component is the same
Assessment component
Report on the clinical assessment, diagnosis and treatment of children and adolescents. 70% 25 hours Yes (extension)

A 2,000-word critical review of the evidence underpinning clinical assessment, diagnosis and treatment of children and adolescents
Reassessment component is the same
Feedback on assessment

Submissions will be marked and moderated using a standardised rubric on the following assessment criteria:

  • analysis
  • application
  • communication
  • evaluation
  • knowledge
  • understanding
    Feedback, including marks, will be given electronically to students.

There is currently no information about the courses for which this module is core or optional.