Praxis Course: Mental Health - A BioPsychoSocial Perspective

GNSTB245 - 1775
PSYCB-1774

Spring Semester 2002

Primary Instructor: James A. Martin, Ph.D., BCD
Office hours by appointment: e-mail to arrange an appointment jmartin@brynmawr, or contact by phone: 610-520-2637

Associate Instructors: (presenting individual course lectures):

Praxis Site Information & Coordination: Nell Anderson, PRAXIS Field Placement Coordinator, Bryn Mawr College, 610 526-5031, nanderso@brynmawr

Schedule: Tuesday evenings 6 to 9 PM (1.5 hrs lecture and class group discussion and 1.5 hrs field site integration lab) Rhys Carpenter Library Lecture Room

Note: All students MUST attend ONE PRAXIS Orientation Meeting. These meetings are scheduled for on Monday 1/28 from 7 to 8:30 PM (location to be determined), or Thursday 1/31 from 6 to 7:30 (location to be determined)

Registration: Priority for registration will be given to students based on class (seniors and juniors will receive first priority).

Course Description

This course will provide participants an opportunity to examine the concept "mental health" from a variety of perspectives (biological, psychological, and social/cultural/political), and to gain first hand experience with mental health services via a field placement in a community-based health, mental health, or social service agency. Faculty from a variety of academic disciplines and a range of professional interests will present their distinctive perspectives, and students will be encouraged to consider how these intersect in the context of their liberal arts education, personal experiences, and their course field experience. Integration of the instructional material and field experience will be facilitated by a weekly discussion period (second half of class) based on student experiences. Students will be asked to help arrange for staff members from the field sites to attend and participate in some of these discussions. Integration will also be supported by three short essays reflecting on the course material and the field experiences to date, by a web-based course final integrative paper and associated peer review and discussion, and finally by the course primary instructor.

This course uses BlackBoard Course Software to facilitate dissemination of reading materials, web information, e-mail communications, and to promote class discussions. Students may access Blackboard directly from my web page:www.brynmawr.edu/Acads/GSSW/jam/switr/website/

Course Objectives

Participants in this course will:

Course Expectations, Requirements, and Grading

Primary Course Documents

Primary Course Web Site: Center for Science in Society: Mental Health Page

Additional Web Resources:

Course Schedule

22 January 2002

Class #1: Introduction (Course Overview, Review of Core Concepts, Discussion of Field Experience and Course Expectations) - J. Martin

Note: All students MUST attend ONE PRAXIS Orientation Meeting. These meetings are scheduled for on Monday 1/28 from 7 to 8:30 PM (location to be determined), or Thursday 1/31 from 6 to 7:30 (location to be determined)

Assigned Reading

During the first three weeks of class please read:

29 January 2002

Class #2: Mental Health from a Biological Perspective 1 - Paul Grobstein

Genetic and Evolutionary Perspectives

Assigned Reading

Recommended Reading

Note: Information will be provided during this class on the use of the Mental Health Web Site and support for posting class papers on the web.
Note: Information will be provided on field site arrangements

5 February 2002

Class #3: Mental Health from a Biological Perspective 2 - Paul Grobstein

Brain and Behavior

Assigned Reading

Recommended Reading

12 February 2002

Class #4: Mental Health from a Biological Perspective 3 - Paul Grobstein

Variations in Brain and Behavior

Note: This will be the first week of field experience

Assigned Reading

Recommended Reading

19 February 2002

Class #5: Mental Health from a Psychological Perspective 1 - Leslie Rescorla

Overview of the main psychological models of psychopathology

Assigned Reading

Note: Class discussion time (7:30 to 9 PM) will be used for a "round table discussion" of mental health issues and services at Bryn Mawr College. Guest discussants: Mark Coffey (drug & alcohol issues: 610-519-1280), Jean-Marie Barch (Counseling Center - x7363), Cynthia Chalker (Asst. Director of Institutional Diversity: x7342)

26 February 2002

Class #6: Mental Health from a Psychological Perspective 2 - Jim Martin

Mental Health: A Life Course Perspective

Assigned Reading

Note: First Short Essay due

5 March 2002

Class #7: Mental Health from a Psychological Perspective 3 - Marc Schulz

Cognitive-Behavioral and Psychodynamic Psychotherapy in Action

Required readings (on e-reserve):

12 March 2002 - Spring Break

19 March 2002

Class #8: Mental Health from a Social Perspective 1 - Jim Martin

Special Populations & Barriers to Mental Health Services

Required Reading

26 March 2002

Class #9: Mental Health from a Social Perspective 2 - Cynthia Bisman

A Focus on Family

Required Reading

2 April 2002

Class #10: Mental Health from a Social Perspective 3 - Philip Kilbride

Culture and Comparative Perspectives

Required Reading: TBD

Note: Second Short essay due

9 April 2002

Class #11: Mental Health from a Social Perspective 4 - Dana Becker

Women's Issues

Required Reading

16 April 2002

Class #12: Instructor "Integration Panel" and Class Discussion
All instructors will present 10 to 15 minutes of information related to the course theme that evolves from their course presentation and their area of special interest. This will be followed by a large group instructor/class discussion that examines the concept of a biopsychosocial model of mental health.

Note: Course paper due

23 April 2002

Class #13: Access to Mental Health Services - Jim Martin
Including a Discussion of Issues of Cost and Confidentiality Associated with Mental Health Services

Required Reading

Note: last week of Field experience

30 April 2002

Class #14: Discussion of Course Papers and Course Summary - J. Martin
Review and general discussion of the course objectives; lectures; and readings, and consideration of other domains that might be included to enrich the biopsychosocial model.

Course Description for catalogue and course guide: This course examines "mental health" from biological, psychological, and social/cultural/political perspectives. Students gain experience with mental health services via a volunteer placement in a community-based agency. Faculty from a variety of disciplines present distinctive perspectives. Students will be encouraged to consider how these intersect with their education and personal experiences.







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