POPLHLTH 735 : Mental Health Development: Theory and Principles
Medical and Health Sciences
2025 Semester One (1253) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
This course provides an introduction to theories and principles underpinning the concept of Mental Health Development. It examines universal, selected and indicated mental health prevention in addition to treatment and recovery approaches, with special consideration of the opportunities for suicide prevention in Aotearoa New Zealand.
This course will be offered in the first semester and the formal teaching will be conducted over four separate days.
The four days cover the following topics:
• Day 1 Mental Health Development: Principles, key concepts and outcomes
• Day 2 Universal, selected and indicated approaches to mental health prevention and treatment: suicide prevention
• Day 3 Enabling environments: Anti-stigma intervention and peer support
• Day 4 System approaches to delivering mental health
POPLHLTH 735 is a required course for the Master of Health Practice, and an optional course in a number of Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences programmes including the Postgraduate Diploma/Masters of Health Sciences as well as Public Health.
The course is also an optional course for the BHSc Honours programme.
Course Contacts
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 1: | People and Place |
| Capability 2: | Sustainability |
| Capability 3: | Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 4: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 5: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 7: | Collaboration |
| Capability 8: | Ethics and Professionalism |
Learning Outcomes
- You will demonstrate an ability to understand and critically evaluate key concepts and principles underlying a MHD approach (Capability 1.2, 2.1, 3.3, 5.1 and 8.2)
- Understand and critically evaluate some of the main paradigms of, and approaches to, mental health from a New Zealand and international perspective. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 3.1 and 8.1)
- See how these concepts can guide one’s own practice as a professional in the mental or social health area. (Capability 1.1, 3.3 and 4.1)
- Appreciate the role of the Treaty of Waitangi and cultural dimensions in this approach. (Capability 1.2)
- Evaluate all these matters critically, to be creative in one’s interpretation of them, and to be enthusiastic about the overall potential and applicability of the MHD approach to mental health and social wellbeing issues. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 4.1, 7.1 and 8.2)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Assignment 1 | 30% | Individual Coursework |
| Assignment 2 | 30% | Individual Coursework |
| Coursework - learning reflection | 10% | Individual Coursework |
| Presentation | 30% | Individual Coursework |
| 4 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||||||
| Assignment 1 | ||||||||||
| Assignment 2 | ||||||||||
| Coursework - learning reflection | ||||||||||
| Presentation | ||||||||||
Workload Expectations
This single semester course consists of four one-day teaching blocks which are compulsory, involving 24 contact hours, plus a structured reading and assignment programme requiring significant weekly work between the blocks. Overall, the course is estimated to require 10 hours a week of study time over a 12 week semester.
The general format is that each classroom session is based on a theme, for which the readings given will form the basis. It is essential that students do the readings before coming to the relevant class, to be able to contribute properly to the learning process.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance is required at scheduled activities including tutorials to complete/receive credit for components of the course.
Other learning activities including will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a block delivery.
Learning Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
Student Feedback
At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.
Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.
Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.
Class Representatives
Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.