MHS5100 Contemporary issues and controversies in mental health science
Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
MHS5100 Contemporary issues and controversies in mental health science is a level 5, 6-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, offered in 2025 in Semester 2 at Clayton. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2025
- Semester 2
- Clayton
- Assessment
- Exam 40%
- and 10 other tasks
This is the 2025 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
Reviews
No reviews yetNo reviews yet. Be the first to review MHS5100.
Requisites
Before MHS5100
No prerequisites or corequisites besides the enrolment rules below.
After MHS5100
No unit lists MHS5100 as a prerequisite in the 2025 handbook.
Enrolment rules
Prerequisites: All Core units in the specific stream (Community Mental Health, Psychiatry, Child Psychotherapy Studies) of Master of Mental Health Science undertaken by the student
Co-requisites: Must be enrolled in M6022
Overview
The capstone unit draws together the theoretical and clinical underpinnings of mental health care practice.
The structure of the Unit will follow 4 strands:
- exploring the efficacy and evidence base for practice,
- contributions of contemporary theory,
- professional practice and specialist topics such as ethical dilemmas and
- controversial issues.
The content will be specific to the specialisation stream. Teaching activities using a work-based model will be the focus for enhancing and enriching these learnings as they apply to their professional practice. Examples include case discussion and reflection and peer discussion in forums or virtual classrooms. The unit will allow you to consolidate and apply the diverse skills and knowledge gained in your degree to become independent and critical learners and professionals in their own discipline.
Offerings in 2025
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Second semester | Clayton | Bld blk |
Assessment
- Virtual classroom participation, discussion, and x 2 presentations (1000 words each)Presentation20%
- Written essay (2,000 words)Written30%
- Essay/case study (2,000 words)Written30%
- Weekend workshop: Preparation (500 words), interaction, post-workshop activity (500 words)Exercise20%
- Create essay plans (Word count 600 words (approximately 5 x 100 words per plan)Written30%
- Untimed mock CEQ (1,500 words)Written30%
- Timed CEQ (1,500 words 80 minutes, submitted online)Examination40%
- Online discussion (600 words each; 2 online commentaries)Written20%
- Written essay (2,000 words)Written30%
- Case study (2,000 words)Written30%
- Weekend Workshop: Preparation (200 words), interaction, post-workshop activity (300 words)Exercise20%
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Critically evaluate key research findings in relation to the evidence base of mental health care frameworks
- 2
Critically analyse key issues relating to contemporary theory and practice of mental health care
- 3
Identify, describe and synthesise complex issues involved in the professional practice of a mental health care professional
- 4
Develop reflective practitioner skills through applying, integrating and consolidating changes into practice
- 5
Formulate creative responses relevant to the practice of working with people with mental illnesses, their family and support network, other professionals and the wider community
- 6
Critically evaluate key research findings in relation to child psychotherapy's efficacy and evidence base
- 7
Critically analyse key issues relating to contemporary theory and practice
- 8
Describe and integrate complex issues observed in professional practice with children and families
- 9
Develop reflective practitioner skills through applying, integrating and consolidating changes into practice
- 10
Analyse contemporary issues and formulate creative responses relevant to the psychoanalytic theory and practice of working with children and families
- 11
Critically evaluate key research findings in relation to evidence based practice in general and subspecialty areas of psychiatric practice
- 12
Critically analyse key issues relating to contemporary theory and practice of psychiatry
- 13
Integrate and apply knowledge of the contemporary context in which the psychiatric profession operates including the regulatory, ethical and sociocultural aspects of the discipline and the role of the consultant psychiatrist
- 14
Develop reflective practitioner skills through applying, integrating and consolidating changes into practice
- 15
Cultivate deeper and reflective insights into complex ethical and practice dilemmas impacting particular subspecialty areas of psychiatric practice such as telepsychiatry, rural psychiatry, perinatal psychiatry, mental health in the indigenous community and psychiatry of intellectual and developmental disabilities. Work collaboratively with others within and outside of the psychiatric discipline
- 16
Critically evaluate key research findings in relation to the evidence base of mental health care frameworks.
- 17
Critically analyse key issues relating to contemporary theory and practice in community mental health.
- 18
Describe and integrate complex issues observed in the professional practice of community mental health care.
- 19
Develop reflective practitioner skills through applying, integrating and consolidating changes into practice.
- 20
Formulate creative responses relevant to the practice of working with people with mental illnesses, their family and support network, other professionals and the wider community.
Workload and teaching
- Tutorials7.5 hours
- Teaching approachActive learning
12 hours per week comprised of a mix of directed and self-directed learning plus attendance at a 2 day block one weekend per semester. 2 Day Block Weekend tutorials comprised of 2.5-5 hours tutorial per unit (depending on student cohort size) and attendance at keynote lectures.
For full details of the teaching approach to this unit, please refer to Moodle.
Learning resources
Required resources
See Moodle for details about required resources.
Contacts
- Unit Coordinators
- Dr Jennifer Re
- Ms Karen Dixon
- Chief Examiners
- Dr Jennifer Re
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for MHS5100?
MHS5100 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
When is MHS5100 offered?
In 2025, MHS5100 runs in Semester 2 at Clayton.
Does MHS5100 have an exam?
Yes. The exam is worth 40% of the final mark, alongside 10 other tasks.