Social Sciences and Psychology

1. Demonstrate the use of the DSM 5.
2. Document the classifications of various disorders.
3. Demonstrate an appreciation of individual differences and diversity in regard to mental illness in our society.
4. Evaluate recovery from the point of view of culture and state government.
5. Evaluate the impact of stigma on recovery.
6. Illustrate the perseverance of mental illness in our society.

Special Assignments

Conducting Assessments

When we encounter a person with a mental health problem in clinical setting it is important to engage in a process of evaluating the specifics of the complaint and the factors that may contribute to it.  Mental health assessments come in many shapes and sizes and are used as a way to standardize the questioning that we use to engage our clients and get to know them.

The standardization is important because the answers on many of these assessments can be coded to assist us in identifying the specific diagnosis that best matches the symptoms we are observing and they help in pinpointing areas of intervention and treatment.

In this assignment you will be conducting some mental health assessments using a few standardized questionnaires.  You will be asked to submit copies of the scored assessments, your evaluation, and a reflection on the process.

Taking Care of Yourself

Modern lives are complex, have many competing responsibilities, and can be stressful.  In order to thrive in this environment one needs to be able to sustain a healthy lifestyle.  This assignment will have you examine and address your efforts to be healthy.

The purpose of this assignment is to evaluate your current state of mental health from a holistic point of view. Mental health does exist in isolation, it is related to various other health and wellbeing factors in our lives.

These factors include care of our physical bodies, connection to others, and functional cognitive habits that allow us to continually evaluate our state of mental health, identify our own needs, and help others to do the same.