Adolescence and Mental Health - 20 credits - Module only

Overview

The adolescence and mental health module will enable you to develop your knowledge and understanding of the factors influencing the health and well being of older children who are presenting a range of complex mental health needs. This module will also improve your awareness and application of the statutory and policy developments in 0 to 25 year services and interventions offered to children and families.

This course is not open to International students.

What's covered in this course?

Completing this module will enable you to examine: the immediate and longer term effects of trauma, loss and abuse for young people & their families, family dynamics and domestic violence, complex mental health presentations (e.g. childhood depression, eating disorders, early onset psychosis, post-traumatic stress disorder), self-harm behaviours, substance abuse, and safeguarding.

This pathway will be taught one day per week and located at our City South Campus. This will enable you to engage in the taught content of the module & access individual/ group tutorial support.

University based teaching and learning activities will be facilitated by academic and clinical colleagues with extensive experiences.

A range of classroom-based lectures, seminars, group work activities, formative presentations, Moodle based, and self-directed work will be adopted to facilitate your learning.

Personal tutor support will be provided by a member of the module team. Additionally academic support can be accessed from our Academic Development Department on a self-referral basis, and from our experienced library colleagues.

Why Choose Us?

We have extensive academic and clinical experience of offering a programme of child and adolescent mental health modules
We have extensive links with local mental health services whose staff have successfully completed the child and adolescent mental health pathway award
We have developed a comprehensive child, adolescent, and young adult mental health pathway which is responsive to the need of these age groups
You will have access to an extensive library of books, journals and support staff who will assist you in developing your knowledge and skills
You will be offered personal tutor support and additional personal development services from a professional and committed team of staff
You will have the opportunity to become a member of a community of practice with other students completing the pathway. This will enable you to share your experiences, share good practice, and reflexively examine your learning

Studying with us during the Covid-19 pandemic

The University has put in place measures in response to Covid-19 to allow us to safely deliver our courses. Should the impact of the pandemic continue in future years, any additional or alternative arrangements put in place by the University will be in accordance with the latest government public health advice, health and safety legislation, and the terms and conditions of the student contract.

Fees & How to Apply

Please select your student status to view fees and apply

UK Student
International Student

UK students

Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.

Award: Module

Starting: Nov 2023

Short Course
6 weeks
TBC

International students

Sorry, this course is not available to International students.

If you're unable to use the online form for any reason, you can complete our PDF application form and equal opportunities PDF form instead. The University reserves the right to increase fees in line with inflation based on the Retail Prices Index or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament up to a maximum of five per cent.

How to apply

Complete the online application form via the link above, including the name of the module you are enrolling onto.

Entry requirements

This course is suitable for people working in a mental health or social care environment with young adults with mental health problems.

Course in Depth

Level 6

Welcome to the ‘Adolescence and Mental Health module. This is the second of three modules you can choose to study at level six as a stand-alone module or in combination with the other modules focusing on the emotional and mental health of children, adolescents, and young adults within the context of the family and society. This module aims to provide you with a flexible, supportive, and theory-practice led framework of learning which intends to foster and develop your awareness and critical analysis of trauma, loss, or abuse and the immediate and longer term effects this can had on the emotional and mental health of children and adolescence.

Adolescence is a key developmental period characterised by rapid physical, emotional, and social growth and increasing independence (Keenan 2002; Cooper et al. 2005; Thompson et al.2012). Traumatic events, different forms of loss, and abuse can have a significant and detrimental impact on the psychological and mental health and wellbeing of young people. Trauma, loss, and abuse in childhood and adolescence can contribute to young people presenting features of post -traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, emotional dysregulation, eating disorders, self-harm, suicidal ideation, early onset psychosis, and other mental health diagnoses (DH 2011; 2015; DSM-V).

Critically analysing and reflecting on the multiplicity of biopsychosocial factors influencing adolescent development, the role of multidisciplinary services, safeguarding policies, assessment, and interventions offered to young people and families during this module will enhance your professional development and practice-led knowledge.

This module aligns with the Professional Practice Programme philosophy and is designed to be flexible and practice-led. You will have the opportunity to develop skills of enquiry, reflection and problem solving. A blended learning approach is taken (incorporating both classroom and online activities via Moodle) in line with the university’s learning and teaching strategy. You will be encouraged to think critically and share practice experiences with your fellow students, as well as engaging in both directed and self-directed learning activities. You will be an active partner in your own learning and development and in return you will receive regular feedback and feedforward aimed at developing your academic skills, and have the opportunity to discuss your progress with the module team.

This module is aimed at nursing and other allied health care professionals and clinicians currently practicing in child, adolescent, and young adult mental health settings.

Level 7

This module aims to provide you with a flexible, supportive, and theory-practice led framework of learning which intends to foster and develop your critical explanation and interpretation of trauma, loss, or abuse and the immediate and longer term effects this can had on the emotional and mental health of children and adolescence.

Adolescence is a key developmental period characterised by rapid physical, emotional, and social growth and increasing independence (Keenan 2002; Cooper et al. 2005; Thompson et al.2012). Traumatic events, different forms of loss, and abuse can have a significant and detrimental impact on the psychological and mental health and wellbeing of young people. Trauma, loss, and abuse in childhood and adolescence can contribute to young people presenting features of post -traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, emotional dysregulation, eating disorders, self-harm, suicidal ideation, early onset psychosis, and other mental health diagnoses (DH 2011; 2015; DSM-V).

Critically appraising, interpreting and synthesising the multiplicity of biopsychosocial factors influencing adolescent development, the role of multidisciplinary services, safeguarding policies, assessment, and interventions offered to young people and families during this module will enhance your synthesis of theory and practice-led knowledge.

This module aligns with the Professional Practice Programme philosophy and is designed to be flexible and practice-led. You will have the opportunity to develop skills of enquiry, reflection and problem solving. A blended learning approach is taken (incorporating both classroom and online activities via Moodle) in line with the university’s learning and teaching strategy. You will be encouraged to think critically and share practice experiences with your fellow students, as well as engaging in both directed and self-directed learning activities. You will be an active partner in your own learning and development and in return you will receive regular feedback and feedforward aimed at developing your academic skills, and have the opportunity to discuss your progress with the module team.

This module is predominantly aimed at graduate healthcare practitioners currently practicing in child, adolescent, and young adult mental health settings.

Course structure

This module aligns with the Professional Programme philosophy and is designed to be flexible and practice-led. You will have the opportunity to develop skills of enquiry, reflection and problem solving. A blended learning approach is taken (incorporating both classroom and online activities via Moodle) in line with the university’s learning and teaching strategy. You will be encouraged to think critically and share practice experiences with your fellow students, as well as engaging in both directed and self-directed learning activities. You will be an active partner in your own learning and development and in return you will receive regular feedback and feedforward aimed at developing your academic skills, and have the opportunity to discuss your progress with the module team.

This module is predominantly aimed at graduate healthcare practitioners currently engaging in child, adolescent, and young adult mental health settings.

Facilities & Staff

Our Facilities

Our School of Nursing and Midwifery is based at our City South campus in leafy Edgbaston.

We’ve spent £41million expanding our facilities at City South. These facilities offer hands-on practical experience, replicating the spaces you will come across in professional practice.

In a sector where new techniques are constantly being discovered, we work hard to ensure that you learn using the most up-to-date equipment available. Alongside physical spaces such as a mock operating theatre and wards, we also make use of online and virtual technology, such as our virtual ward and virtual case creator.

See more of our skills facilities at City South

Centre for Skills and Simulation

The Centre for Skills and Simulation offers a range of different spaces which replicate situations that you will encounter in practice. These include hospital wards, an operating theatre and a home environment room.

Our mock wards enable you to get a feel of what a ward is really like before you head out for your first placement. The hospital wards can be adapted from low care to high dependency care environment with the necessary monitoring equipment.

The home environment room is the perfect space for teaching communications skills and allows us to simulate a community setting for our students. It is particularly useful for mental health nurses, learning disability nurses and midwives.

Simulation Manikins

We have several Simulation men (SIM men) and simulation babies (SIM babies) which are anatomically correct manikins used for teaching specific techniques such as advanced adult and paediatric life support skills, acute and high dependency clinical skills, first aid and communication skills. The manikins contain software which replicates real symptoms, and can manipulate indicators such as blood pressure, pulse and heart rate for extra realism. SIM man can even ‘talk’ to the students as they are treating him, to add another dimension to learning.

Computer Facilities

The Seacole building has two open-access IT Suites which offer PCs, printers, photocopiers and scanners. There is also an IT Helpdesk for quick and easy help with your computing or internet issues.

Our PCs utilise the latest Intel i5 core technology, all with:

Fast (unrestricted) internet connectivity
Ability to save files to USB, DVD & CD
Microsoft Office software
Research and statistical software
Storage space which can be accessed from any PC across the University and from home

Our PCs are also designed to support students who may have difficulties with reading and writing, featuring specialised software with zooming/magnification and screen reading capabilities, which may also be customised for individual student needs.

In addition to desktop PCs, we also offer a laptop loan facility, allowing students to borrow a laptop for up to six hours while on campus.

Our staff

Dr Paul Millwood

Senior Lecturer and admissions tutor for Mental Health Nursing

Paul has worked in mental health nursing and nurse education for 34 years, with his time in practice being spent in community and specialist forensic mental health settings for children and adolescents. Following completion of his mental health and adult nurse training in the 1980s, Paul worked in a number of senior clinical nurse specialist...

More about Paul

Enquiries

Module Leader

If you have any queries about this course please contact the Module Leader, Paul Millwood on:

Tel: 0121 331 7170
Email: Paul.Millwod@bcu.ac.uk

Professional Navigators

Our Professional Navigator, Nicola Clarke, is also on hand to offer guidance and will help you to choose which modules are best for you, taking into account your aims, professional or clinical experience, KSF requirements and your academic achievements.

Call Nicola on +44 (0)121 331 6162.