Overview

This unit introduces students to the ways in which mental health has been conceptualised over time and an introduction to the diagnostic manual of mental disorders used by psychologists in Australia and around the world. Common mental disorders are introduced and explained in terms of their phenomenology and nosology, as well as theories about aetiology and approaches to treatment. Throughout the unit, cultural and biopsychosocial factors that relate to the classification, diagnosis, and treatment mental disorders are outlined. In sum, the unit develops student understanding in relation to mental health diversity, mental health disorders, and the major psychological treatments used to address them.

Requisites

Prerequisites
PSY20006 Cognition and Human Performance
PSY20007 Developmental Psychology
PSY20016 Social Psychology

Rules

PSY20006 Cognition and Human Performance
AND
PSY20007 Developmental Psychology

AND one of:
PSY20016 Social Psychology
OR
PSY30009 Social Psychology

Equivalent units
PSY30010 Abnormal Psychology
Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Date Teaching Period 1
Location
Online
Start and end dates
10-March-2025
08-June-2025
Last self-enrolment date
23-March-2025
Census date
04-April-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
02-May-2025
Results released date
01-July-2025
Date Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
04-August-2025
02-November-2025
Last self-enrolment date
17-August-2025
Census date
31-August-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
19-September-2025
Results released date
09-December-2025
Date Teaching Period 3
Location
Online
Start and end dates
03-November-2025
08-February-2026
Last self-enrolment date
16-November-2025
Census date
28-November-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
02-January-2026
Results released date
03-March-2026

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Compare and critique the ways in which human behaviours have been identified as abnormal or dysfunctional.
  • Describe and characterise the classification and features of mental disorders (including phenomenology and aetiology) and explain how they are applied to individual cases.
  • Critically review the biopsychosocial approach to understanding mental disorders and their treatment across a range of contexts.
  • Critically reflect on Teamwork roles and processes that assist groups to complete a task.
  • Appraise their collaboration and negotiation skills when working in a group.

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Activity Type Activity Total Hours Number of Weeks Hours Per Week
Live Online Lecture 24 12 weeks 2
On-campus Class 12 12 weeks 1
Unspecified Activities Various 84 12 weeks 7
Specified Activities Various 30 10 weeks 3
Total Hours: 150 Total Hours (per week): 13

All Applicable Locations

Activity Type Activity Total Hours Number of Weeks Hours Per Week
Live Online Class 4 4 weeks 1
Specified Activities Various 96 12 weeks 8
Unspecified Activities Various 50 12 weeks 4.17
Total Hours: 150 Total Hours (per week): 13.17

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Assignment Individual  20%-40%  1,2,3 
Assignment Individual/Group  20%-40% 1,2,3,4,5 
Examination Individual  40%  1,2,3 

Content

  • Conceptualising and researching distress and mental health
  • Description and diagnosis of mental disorders across the lifespan
  • Evidence based approaches for treatment of mental disorders
  • Graduate Attribute 2 (Communication 2 - Communicating using different media)
  • Graduate Attribute 3 (Teamwork 1 - Collaboration and negotiation)
  • Graduate Attribute 4 (Teamwork 2 - Teamwork roles and processes)
  • Graduate Attribute 5 (Digital Literacies 1 - Information literacy)
  • Graduate Attribute 6 (Digital Literacies 2 - Technical literacy)

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.