The module is intended to introduce students to key psychological concepts, by exploring current debates in psychology. Students will learn about the psychological underpinnings of early risk and protective factors for mental illness and wellbeing as well as how school, family, and peers can best support the mental health of children and adolescents.
Occurrence | Teaching period |
---|---|
A | Spring Term 2022-23 |
The module is intended to introduce students to key psychological concepts, by exploring current debates in psychology concerning nature of mental illness in children and adolescents, how mental illness can be identified, and how schools, families, and peers can best support the mental health of children and adolescents. Attention will be given to critically examining relationships between academic research, policy and practice in various contexts such as at school, at home, and in the playground.
Subject content:
Academic and graduate skills:
The following is a list of indicative content for this module:
• Mental health as a concept. Students will learn about the key terms used when discussing mental health, distinguishing between mental wellbeing and mental illness.
• Risk factors. Students will learn about the underlying psychological theory related to risk factors for poor mental health in children and adolescents and how these manifest (e.g. bullying, poverty, attachment, etc.)
• Special educational needs and mental health. Students will be introduced to a number of neurodevelopmental conditions and asked, in groups, to design and present to their peers an intervention to support children with a specific educational need (e.g. autism, developmental language disorder, dyslexia etc.).
• Self harm and suicide. Students will learn about risk factors for self-harm, understand why adolescents self-harm and consider the link between self-harm and suicidal behaviour.
• Body image and disordered eating. Students will be introduced to different types of disordered eating and clinical eating disorders. They will learn about risk factors for disordered eating, focusing on body image, and consider how risk can be mitigated.
• Digital technology and mental health. Students will learn how and why digital technologies (e.g. social media, apps and wearables) contribute to mental health in both positive and negative ways. They will also consider the problems associated with researching this topic.
Task | % of module mark |
---|---|
Essay/coursework | 70 |
University - project | 30 |
None
Students will receive feedback on poster titles in week 5. Students will also receive in-session feedback after the problem based learning sessions in week 5 and week 6. A formative task (essay plan, 1-2 pages in length) to be set during the Spring term.
Task | % of module mark |
---|---|
Essay/coursework | 70 |
University - project | 30 |
Written feedback on assignment report sheet and face-to-face feedback in supervisions. The feedback is returned to students in line with university policy. Please check the Guide to Assessment, Standards, Marking and Feedback for more information.
Blake, S., Bird, J., Gerlach, L. (2007). Promoting Emotional and Social Development in Schools: A Practical Guide. London: Sage.
Centifanti, L.C. & Williams, D.M. (2017) The Wiley Handbook of Developmental Psychopathology. London: Wiley Blackwell.
Dwivedi, K.N., & Harper, P. B. (2004). Promoting the Emotional Well Being of Children and Adolescents and Preventing Their Mental Ill Health: A Handbook. London : Jessica Kingsley.
Hulme, C., & Snowling, M. J. (2009). Developmental Disorders of Language Learning and Cognition. Hoboken : Wiley.
Howard, C., Burton, M., Levermore, D., & Barrell, R. (2017). Children's Mental Health and Emotional Well-Being in Primary Schools. London: Sage.
Nash, P. (2006) The assessment & management of psychosocial aspects of reading and language impairments. In: M. Snowling & J.Stackhouse (Eds) Dyslexia, speech & language: A practitioner’s handbook. Chapter 13. 2nd ed. London: Whurr.
Bronfenbrenner, U. (1994) Ecological models of human development. In International Encyclopedia of Education, Vol 3, 2nd Edition. Oxford: Elsevier.
van Harmelen A-L, Gibson JL, St Clair MC, Owens M, Brodbeck J, Dunn V, et al. (2016) Friendships and Family Support Reduce Subsequent Depressive Symptoms in At-Risk Adolescents. PLoS ONE 11(5): e0153715. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0153715