This unit introduces students to the mental health field and the role of counselling and other interventions used in this field. Students are provided with knowledge and skills to identify mental health issues and conditions and their social and biological determinants. Students will gain an understanding of mental health assessment, intervention and counselling processes as well as ethical issues. Considerations include the meaning and incidence of mental health problems, current issues in mental health, identified features and behaviours of those with common types of mental health problems, prescribed interventions utilised in the mental health field and the current discourse around focused psychological strategies and evidence based practices. Students will also explore social concerns about mental health and will be encourage to reflect on their own views. Topics: 1. Mental health and illness 2. Psychiatric classifications 3. Pharmacology 4. Asessment 5. Case management 6. Personality disorders 7. Building counselling relationship with people with personality disorders 8. Recovery Model 9. Evidence Based Practice and Client Directed Outcome Informed Counselling 10. Focused Psychological Strategies: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy, Emotion Focused Therapy 11. Mindfulness Approaches: Acceptance and commitment therapy