Master of Mental Health Science - 2019

This course is offered by the Department of Psychiatry in the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health. This course seeks to develop professional knowledge and skills for clinicians delivering mental health care. Depending upon your undergraduate studies you select from community mental health, child psychotherapy, psychiatrist in training or mental health nursing. These specialisations aim to meet the specific needs of these disciplines within mental health services. The course can be completed by coursework, or for those professionals seeking to build their research capacity, incorporation of a research project or minor thesis is available to address that need.

Specialisations

Child psychotherapy

The child psychotherapy specialisation gives you a deep understanding of psychoanalytic and developmental theory and how it can help children and adolescents with emotional and behavioural problems. Completing all units in this pathway fulfils part of the criteria for professionals to be eligible for membership of the Victorian Child Psychotherapy Association.

Community mental health

The community mental health specialisation provides a thorough understanding of community mental health practice in Australia, from population-based to individual clinical and rehabilitation interventions to family and community support to policy and planning. It is relevant not just to case management, disability support and non-clinical mental health workers but also to clinical psychologists, trainee psychiatrists, general practitioners, psychiatric nurses, occupational therapists and social workers.

Mental health nursing

The mental health nursing specialisation provides a deep understanding of the philosophy and theory underpinning mental health nursing, its values and the requisite skills to maintain clinical relationships and assist in person-centred mental health care that aids recovery. Through completion of elective units that include psychoanalytic and developmental theory, mental health of the elderly, psychopharmacology and physical treatments, transcultural mental health, forensic mental health and family violence, the mental health nurse will be equipped to provide competent clinical care in a range of mental health settings.

Psychiatrist in training

The psychiatrist in training specialisation provides a comprehensive bio-psycho-socio-occupational inquiry into the understanding of persons presenting with a range of psychiatric conditions, in a range of life stages from the perinatal period to old age and requiring medical and psychological intervention by physicians working in the field of psychiatry. It will facilitate an understanding of the theoretical basis behind delivery of collaborative and optimal mental health care to such persons. Elective units cover some of the most significant public health challenges in mental health such as alcohol and other drug addictions, forensic behavioural science as well as units on research and ethics.

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 9 and Monash Graduate AttributesAustralian Qualifications Framework level 9 and Monash Graduate Attributes (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/alignmentofoutcomes.html).

Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that you will be able to:

1. critically evaluate mental health literature and identify gaps for research
2. evaluate the effectiveness of mental health care interventions using appropriate research tools
3. integrate a high level of discipline specific knowledge, research informed skills, critical analysis and evidence-based practice principles into advanced mental health practice
4. initiate new or innovative approaches to the delivery of mental health interventions that empower clients and patients to become knowing and willing partners in the mental health intervention
5. develop, apply and champion evidence-based best practice principles in your designated area of practice (community mental health/child psychotherapy/mental health nursing/psychiatry)
6. provide leadership in mental health care policy and practice reforms
7. exhibit cross-cultural competence and ethical values in the application of specialised, expert skills in the delivery of mental health interventions.

Child psychotherapy

Successful completion of the Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Science - Child psychotherapy (exit only) or the Master of Child Psychotherapy including CPS5001, CPS5002, CPS5003, CPS5004, CPS5005, CPS5006, CPS5007, CPS5008 fulfils one of the criteria for professionals to be eligible for membership of the Victorian Child Psychotherapists' Association.

Mental health nursing

Successful completion of the Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Science - Mental health nursing (exit only) or the Master of Mental Health Nursing fulfils the qualifications criteria for the Australian College of Mental Health Nursing Credential for Practice Program (ACMHN-CPP). The ACMHN credential is the standard accepted to recognise specialist mental health nurses.

Psychiatrists in training

Completion of a formal education course (FEC) is one requirement of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists across stages 1 and 2 of training and complements supervised clinical training in accredited clinical roles. An application for accreditation of the Master of Psychiatry award is before the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists.

The course is structured in three parts: Part A. Expanding core discipline skills, Part B. Foundations for mental health science specialist studies and Part C. Advanced specialist study.

Part A. Expanding core discipline skills

In this part, you will have the opportunity to complete scholarly practical studies that develop and expand your expertise within your area of specialist practice - child psychotherapy, community mental health, mental health nursing or psychiatry.

These studies will provide you with the foundations to lead the management, design and delivery of high quality evidence-based patient/consumer-centred care and/or develop health care programs in a clinical context that impact on patient outcomes. It is inter-professional, reflecting and modelling the collaboration required in practice to deliver health care of the highest quality and ensures a heightened awareness of legal, ethical, inter-professional, cultural, managerial and safety issues in health care practice.

Part B. Foundations for mental health science specialist studies

In this part, you will have the opportunity to be orientated to research through an exploration of the nature of health professional research. You will interpret published research and enhance your capacity to resolve ethical issues that health researchers face.

Part C. Advanced specialist study

The focus of these studies is professional or scholarly work that can contribute to a portfolio of professional development. You have two options:

1. a program of coursework study involving the development of practical research skills, a capstone unit and electives where you select units to suit your own interests
2. a research focus where you have a choice between completing a research project or a minor thesis.

   Note: If you are wishing to use this masters course as a pathway to a higher degree by research you should take the research pathway.

The course comprises 72 points structured into three parts: Part A. Expanding core discipline skills (24, 36 or 48 points), Part B. Foundations for mental health science specialist studies (6 points), and Part C. Advanced specialist study (18, 30 or 42 points ).

The course progression mapcourse progression map (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2019handbooks/maps/map-m6022.pdf) provides guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

Units are 6 credit points unless otherwise stated.

Part A. Expanding core discipline skills (24, 36, or 48 points)

You must complete:

Child psychotherapy (48 points)

• CPS5001 Psychoanalytic and developmental theories 1
• CPS5002 Normal developmental observation
• CPS5003 Psychoanalytic and developmental theories 2
• CPS5004 Psychodynamic assessment of children and adolescents
• CPS5005 Principles of child psychotherapy
• CPS5006 Principles of adolescent psychotherapy
• CPS5007 Principles of short term therapy
• CPS5008 Principles of working with parents

Community mental health (24 points)

• CMH5001 Mental health practice essentials
• CMH5002 The context for mental health practice
• CMH5003 Concepts in mental health illness
• CMH5004 Recovery oriented mental health practice

Mental health nursing (24 points)

• CMH5001 Mental health practice essentials
• CMH5003 Concepts in mental health illness
• CMH5004 Recovery oriented mental health practice
• NUR5228 Theories and philosophies of mental health nursing

Psychiatrists in training (36 points)

PIT5001 Foundations of psychiatry 1

PIT5002 Foundations of psychiatry 2

PIT5003 Foundations of psychiatry 3

CMH5012 Psychopharmocology and physical treatments in mental health care

PIT5005 Psychiatry of the medically ill

PIT5006 Child and adolescent psychiatry

Part B. Foundations for mental health science specialist studies (6 points)

You must complete in your second or third year:

• SRH5001 Research methods for health

Part C. Advanced specialist study (18, 30 or 42 points)

You must complete either a. or b. below.

a. Research pathway

The research pathway* may provide a pathway to a higher degree by research.

You must complete either a research project or a minor thesis as detailed below:

Research project students complete:

• MAP5000 Research in advanced health professional practice (12 points)
• MAP5010 Advanced health practice research project (12 points)
• 6 or 18 points from the list of elective units below from their chosen specialisation

Minor thesis** students complete:

• MAP5000 Research in advanced health professional practice (12 points)
• MAP5001 Preparatory minor thesis (12 points)
• MAP5002 Minor thesis (12 points)
• 6 points from the elective units below from their chosen specialisation

* The research pathway is not available to students in the Child Psychotherapy specialisation. Contact mmhs.psych@monash.edu to discuss research and pathway options to a higher degree by research.

** The minor thesis is not available to students in the Psychiatry specialisation.

b. Coursework pathway

You must complete:

• SRH5032 Applied research for health practitioners

Students complete the requirements for their specialisation as detailed below.

Child psychotherapy

The following capstone unit:

• CPS5009 Contemporary issues and controversies in child psychotherapy

and 6 points of the child psychotherapy elective units below (6 points):

• CMH5006 Transcultural mental health
• CMH5011 Contemporary research and practice in family violence
• PIT5008 Fundamentals of forensic psychiatry

Community mental health

The following capstone unit:

• CMH5013 Contemporary issues and controversies in community mental health

and 30 points from the list of community mental health elective units below:

• CMH5005 Mental health of the elderly
• CMH5006 Transcultural mental health
• CMH5011 Contemporary research and practice in family violence
• CMH5012 Psychopharmacology and physical treatments in mental health care
• CPS5001 Psychoanalytic and developmental theories 1
• CPS5002 Normal development observation
• CPS5003 Psychoanalytic and developmental theories 2
• PIT5008 Fundamentals of forensic psychiatry

Mental health nursing

The following capstone unit:

• NUR5229 Challenges and controversies in mental health nursing practice

and 30 points from the list of mental health nursing elective units below:

• CMH5002 The context for mental health practice
• CMH5005 Mental health of the elderly
• CMH5006 Transcultural mental health
• CMH5011 Contemporary research and practice in family violence
• CMH5012 Psychopharmacology and physical treatments in mental health care
• CPS5001 Psychoanalytic and developmental theories 1
• CPS5002 Normal development observation
• CPS5003 Psychoanalytic and developmental theories 2
• PIT5008 Fundamentals of forensic psychiatry

Psychiatrists in training

The following capstone unit:

• PIT5012Not offered in 2019 Contemporary issues and controversies in psychiatry

and 18 points of psychiatrists in training elective units from the list below:

• PIT5010 Ethics of mental health care
• PIT5008 Fundamentals of forensic psychiatry
• CMH5004 Recovery oriented mental health practice
• CMH5005 Mental health of the elderly
• CMH5006 Transcultural mental health
• ASC5004 Addiction assessment and treatment: practice and innovation

You may exit this course early and apply to graduate with one of the following awards, provided you have satisfied the requirements for that award during your enrolment in this master's course:

• Graduate Certificate of Mental Health Science after successful completion of 24 points of study from Part A.
• Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Science after successful completion of 48 points of study including all the requirements for Part A.

You will have the name of the specialisation on your transcript.

Successful completion of this course may provide a pathway to a higher degree by research if you choose to complete the research stream. To be eligible for doctoral studies such as the Doctor of Philosophy award, you need to undertake the minor thesis pathway (36 points in Part C).