Mental Health Nursing II

At the end of this course, the student should be able to: 1. identify socio cultural issues relating to mental health (such as peer/societal pressure and many others); 2. discuss concept of community mental health, preventive mental health/psychiatric services in schools, work places and communities; 3. explain social and psychological issues affecting mental health/illness; 4. discuss the role of traditional healers in mental health/psychiatric nursing; 5. utilise the nursing process in the care and management of mental health patients in all settings; and 6. organise and implement preventive mental health activities in the community.

Review of psychosocial development from childhood to adulthood. Human behaviour in illness. Social and cultural issues relating to mental health. The role of traditional healers in mental/psychiatric disease interpretation and management in the society (urban and rural). Application of the nursing process in the development of nursing care plans for clients with psychiatric/mental health issues. Rehabilitation. Parole, half way homes and many others for mental health disorders. Stigmatisation and discrimination in mental illness. Community psychiatry/community mental health. Use of systemic framework approach in the application of therapeutic interventions (considering the pragmatics and dynamics of human behaviours).