PSY2014 · Mental health in the digital age

Overview

Technological advancements have changed almost every aspect of our lives, including mental health. In this unit you will learn about the potential dangers and promises of living in an ever-growing digital world. You will gain an understanding of problematic behaviours associated with digital technology that can have a negative impact on mental health (i.e. excessive internet use and cyberbullying). You will also gain an understanding of how digital and mobile technologies have been used to deliver mental health care across a range of contexts (i.e. identification of mental health problems and large-scale interventions). This unit will allow you to develop analytical skills by evaluating the effectiveness, feasibility and ethics of digital mental health technologies. In addition, you will have the opportunity to use existing digital mental health technologies and to create mental health resources using digital technology. It is inevitable that digital approaches will become more widely used and accepted for mental health issues across healthcare and education sectors. This unit will therefore lay foundation knowledge for future study and professional careers within the area of mental health diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and recovery across the lifespan.

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.

Learning outcomes

1. Identify different types of digital technologies that have the potential to impact mental health and wellbeing.
2. Articulate current and future trends regarding the use of digital technologies to support mental health and wellbeing in diverse populations and environments.
3. Critically and systematically analyse the strengths and shortfalls of specific digital technologies in relation to mental health and wellbeing.
4. Evaluate ethical considerations and influence of specific digital technologies on mental health and wellbeing.
5. Produce digital intervention recommendations to support mental health and wellbeing, considering the needs of diverse populations.

Workload

You are expected to spend a total of 144 hours on this unit, equivalent to an average of 12 hours of study per week. This includes Lectures: 2 hours per week for 9 weeks (18 hours) Online workshops: 2 hours per week for 3 weeks (6 hours) Orientation tutorial: 1 hour in Week 1 Tutorials: 2 hours per week for 9 weeks (18 hours). Self-directed learning (100 hours approx). Eight hours background reading/preparation for lectures, tutorials and assessment tasks per week. Attendance at tutorials is recommended in order to successfully complete in-class activities and related assessment tasks.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.