Master's Programme in Community Mental Health Work

Study programme code MASTPSYH

ECTS credits 120

Admission requirements Requirements for admission include possession of a Bachelor´s Degree (180 credits) or the equivalent in child welfare education, ergonomics, physiotherapy, healthcare and social work, nursing or social education, and a minimum of one year of relevant professional practice from mental health work after the completion of the Bachelor´s Degree. Applicants with other education at college or university level, with at least one year of relevant professional practice after completion of the education programme may upon special consideration be accepted as students. Admission is given according to the University of Agder´s regulations for admission to master programmes and continuing education (http://www.lovdata.no/cgi-wift/ldles?doc=/sf/sf sf-20051214-1750.html) and supplementary regulations for admission to Community Mental Health Work, Master Programme. Applicants who have completed Continuing Education in Mental Health Care (60 ECTS credits) may have parts of their study programme approved in the Master Programme.

General description and profile of the programme Community Mental Health Work, Master Programme, is an interdisciplinary study programme which emphasises evaluation of and research on relations oriented and community based practical mental health work. During the programme students will meet expanding requirements which are part of community mental health work in various sectors in society today. Mental health work is an increasing professional field in many countries involving terms like community social work (Norway), social networks intervention (Norway and Finland), social psychiatry (Denmark), and community mental health (Italy, England, the United States). Working preventatively and taking initiatives towards various groups of users mean applying both methods, as well as organising such measures. Competence in private relations can be extended to bigger social networks. Working to create including communities and meaningful lives is emphasised on the basis of challenges concerning social relations, work, housing, having a meaningful leisure-time etc. Contents are based on the national curriculum and regulations for continuing education in mental health work, determined by the Ministry of Education and Research 1 December 2005. Objectives: The objective of the Master Programme is to give the students independent skills in relations-oriented mental health work for the target groups children/adolescents and adults. Both the professional field and the field of research are included and also development and quality assurance. The programme is based on the Government´s plan for escalation concerning mental health work and the strategy plan concerning children´s and young people´s mental heath. In accordance with the contents of these plans the objectives of the study programme are based on the need for development of knowledge and improved skills and understanding of persons with psychosocial problems. The study programme will give meaning to the term mental health work by taking as its starting point various definitions and experiences of mental health and mental illness, various strategies for taking action, giving treatment and care and various methods for evaluation and research. Contents: The Master Programme in Mental Health Work is part of the plan to upgrade skills within mental health work both nationwide and in the communities. Community based preventative work and clinical studies are distinctive features of the programme and an important foundation, making possible a continuous development of skills and practical knowledge based on the users´ experiences and needs. By prevention and clinical practice are meant bilateral interventions directed towards a positive development of individual and social resources as well as prevention, relief and work with negative symptoms. Preventative work and other clinical practice are part of the study programme and form an important empirical foundation also for the theoretical and investigational part of the programme. In this way the dialogues are created and intensified between the universal and the particular in the specific mental health work. The various parts of the programme co-operate with each other and create the grounds for development of both professional skills and research competence. By qualifying the students in critical analysis, reflection and investigational evaluation of their own practice as well as others´, a high academic level is secured. Challenges of research (theoretical and methodological) in relations oriented practice are especially emphasised. The study programme consists of several courses and is built up by one professional and one scientific part. The professional part in its turn consists of two main parts: 1. Basic requirements for mental health work. This part is compulsory and consists of theoretical principles for the entire study programme. The following courses are included: PSY407 Community Mental Health I, 15 ECTS credits PSY408 Community Mental Health II, 15 ECTS credits PSY409 Relational and Dialogical Approaches to Community Mental Health ,5 ECTS credits 2. A specialisation in theory and practice within a selection of central topics in community mental health. As for the specialisation in the 2nd semester, the students may choose from the following courses: PSY410 Service User Perspectives in Community Mental Health, 10 ECTS credits PSY411 Social Networks in Community Mental Health, 10 ECTS credits PSY412 Child and Adolescent Mental Health: Developmental and Community Perspectives, 10 ECTS credits The specialisation of the professional part of the programme is continued in the 3rd semester. The students may choose between the following courses: PSY500 Crisis Intervention, 15 ECTS credits PSY501 Psychosocial Work with Children and Adolescents, 15 ECTS credits Det tas forbehold om oppstart av alle fordypningsområder / valgemner hvert studieår. Reservations are made for all specialisation areas / self-chosen courses with regard to teaching the courses each academic year. The scientific part of the programme consists of the following compulsory courses: ME-410 Philosophy of Science, Research Methodologies, and the Human Dimension, 10 ECTS credits ME-411 Applied Research Methods, Design and Analysis, 5 ECTS credits ME-503 Research Practice and Research Ethics, 15 ECTS credits ME-504 Master´s Thesis in Community Mental Health, 30 ECTS credits The scientific part of the study programme will give an insight into both qualitative and quantitative traditions of research and methods of particular relevance for research and development work within the field community mental health. The scientific part will be completed with the Master´s Thesis, which will be based on a relevant topic taken from the professional part of the study programme.

Specific arrangements for recognition of prior learning (formal, non-formal and informal) Arrangements for the recognition of prior learning are described in the information on the institution under "General arrangements for the recognition of prior learning (formal, informal and non-formal)".

Examination regulations and grading For a description of the examination regulations, see the Examination Regulations of the University of Agder.

For information about the Norwegian grading system, see ECTS credits and grades. Specific information on grading for each course is found in the individual course descriptions.

Graduation requirements The Examination Regulations of the University of Agder regulate the graduation requirements for each programme of study.

Learning outcomes After having completed the master programme, students will have: developed special knowledge about relation-based community mental health work for the target groups children, adolescents and adults; knowledge about and skills in health promoting work and rehabilitation of mental illness, included a strengthened and further developed dialogue as well as skills-oriented qualifications concerning people in crises and/or people with difficult psychosocial living conditions; knowledge, skills and attitudes directed at promoting and strengthening people´s skills, well-being and psychosocial factors such as protection at home, in the kindergarten, at school, at work and in the community; developed a knowledge of various perspectives and experiences of mental health and illness, various strategies for taking action, treatment and assistance, and various methods for evaluation and research; an ethically reflected attitude to mentally ill people; a strengthened ethical, historical and critical awareness of societal and context dependant conditions for various practices in mental health work and psychiatry; developed skills and knowledge that stimulate interdisciplinary and inter-sector development of skills and co-operation and focus on both practice and research as well as development and quality assurance; the skills required to initiate and participate in overall and co-operating services for crisis intervention; knowledge about and skills in independent surveying, research and development work within psychiatric health care, psychosocial work and clinical practice.

Teaching methods The study programme encourages various forms of instruction and work methods and a close follow-up of the individual student. Feedback will be given during the studies, including discussions and several minor examinations together with written assignments. Instruction will be given in Norwegian but the Master´s Thesis may be adapted for English speaking students. The instruction is multidimensional and several pedagogical tools will be used, adapted to the various needs of the programme (theory, practice, research) including: Lectures / seminars: Lectures are given both by the regular teachers and by guest lecturers from various professional fields. Thus the students will be given theoretical and practical points of view from different disciplines and work places. Practical studies: Under supervision the students will work with people in various contexts, e.g. couples, groups, organisations, aimed at improving these people´s mental health. 90 % certified attendance is required. Practical studies are organised and approved by the university. Various types of group work: Study groups: Some professional fields are presented in study groups in which the students participate in exercises, role play, trying out various methods of evaluation etc. These methods are important tools both to increase the students´ self-understanding and to train their relational skills. Seminars (organised by the teachers) and study groups (organised by the students). The aim of these groups is preparing for dialogical, interdisciplinary development of knowledge through working with specific problems and the exchanging of experience. 80 % certified attendance is required. User-directed project work (applies only to the students who choose PSY410 Service User Perspectives in Community Mental Health). User-directed project work gives knowledge of methodological work and the development of knowledge from the user´s perspective. The final exam assignment consists of writing a report to be presented at a seminar. The students will work in groups and will develop and systematise knowledge from a user-directed area for discussion within the field of psychosocial work. Suggestions of topic, problem formulations, methods and data sources will be approved by the teachers at the start of the project. To obtain personal information, authorisation must first have been given. Reflection teams. Discussions take place based on the participants´ own experiences, and the team functions as an arena for learning and developing communication skills. Self-development groups. The students participate in self-development groups corresponding to a total of 40 hours. In the groups the attention will be given to the relationship between the life backgrounds of the students and the choice of education and work practice. The aim is to stimulate personal growth and development and to explore their understanding of their own mental health and the premises for assisting other people related to their mental health. Compulsory participation is required. 90 % certified attendance is required in the self-development groups. Tutorials (two kinds): 1. Clinical supervision related to practice, focusing on the students´ self-development in practice situations, benefit from experiences, discussions of specific problems etc. Dilemmas and challenges in clinical practice situations are focused on and will stimulate to professional development of skills. Interdisciplinary groups will be supervised. The groups will be organised by the university. Supervision is compulsory. 2. Academic supervision related to exercises, research and written work in order to strengthen the scientific competence. Independent literature studies and assignments The students will be given the opportunity to work independently with their own projects, obtain literature and carry out written assignments.

Assessment methods Several assessment methods will be used in order to ensure a connection between the various learning outcomes in the courses, and to ensure the totality and quality of the education. Theoretical courses will be assessed by written examinations. The objective is to assess the acquisition of basic professional knowledge. Portfolio assessment will be used for work with specialisation topics. The students will carry out both individual and group assignments which will be compiled in a personal portfolio and assessed. This kind of assessment allows individual initiative and effort to a greater degree, which is an important aspect of the study programme. The Master´s Thesis will be assessed by an internal and external examiner. The thesis will be discussed with the candidate in an oral final examination (lasting about one hour). The Master´s Thesis will be graded and the grade may be adjusted after the oral examination.

Student exchange The Faculty of Health and Sport prepares for student exchange through established mobility programmes like Erasmus, Leonardo da Vinci and Nordplus. It is also possible to apply for exchange to University of Jyväskylä, Finland, Karol Marcinowski University of Medical Sciences in Poznan, Poland, and the University in Wuhan, China, where the Faculty of Health and Sport has exchange agreements. A similar agreement with the University of Bergamo, Italy, is under establishment.

Requirements for continuing in the study programme At least 60 ECTS credits must be passed before the student may have supervision related to the master´s thesis. 90 ECTS credits (all first-year and second-year courses) must be passed in order to have the master's thesis submitted. Please see progression requirements in the course descriptions.

Occupational profiles of graduates and access to further studies The master programme will qualify for community mental health work, and also mental health work at a regional and national level, within the public sector (municipality and health trust) as well as private and voluntary organisations: Positions within preventative and health promoting work in community health and the social sector and specialist health services. Positions within the health and social services that require independent skills related to research and professional development work, and also leader positions. Research and teaching positions at universities and university colleges. The programme will qualify for admission to PhD-programmes.

Qualification awarded The study programme leads to the title Master of Mental Health Work.

Other information Instruction will alternate between the campuses Kristiansand and Arendal. Starting an area of specialisation / elective course requires a minimum of ten students.