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Media Release

September 4 2006

New focus on mental health expertise at UniSA

UniSA is offering an innovative new mental health study option in 2007 which will better prepare a wide range of health professionals for the increasing impact of mental illness in society and the workplace.

The Graduate Diploma in Mental Health has been designed specifically to prepare nurses, midwives and a wide range of health service providers from podiatrists and physiotherapists to social workers and occupational therapists to care for clients experiencing mental health problems.

Program coordinator at UniSA, Associate Professor Eimear Muir-Cochrane says increases in the incidence of mental illness in the community are making an impact in a wide range of health and care settings.

“Estimates show that more than 20 per cent of the adult population will confront some kind of mental health problem in their lifetime,” Prof Muir-Cochrane said. “And for young people that can be as high as 10 to 15 per cent in any one year.

“Given those sorts of statistics it is clear that professionals across a range of health care settings will often find themselves at the ‘front-line’ in dealing with mental illness. Increasingly they have to consider mental health issues in the treatment and care mix for many patients and clients.”

This program is the only one of its kind in SA and Prof Muir-Cochrane says it provides students from diverse health disciplines a chance to study, collaborate, research and analyse issues together as they would do in their daily work environment when providing services to people with mental health problems.

“I believe we have developed an innovative education package that will broaden and challenge students because it l involves them in problem solving that takes into account different health and care perspectives. Students will engage with a range of issues from prevention strategies and the rights of people with mental illness, to the impact on families and the community. The program will also include perspectives on mental health care that take account of multicultural issues and the special needs of people in rural and remote communities.”

The one year program is available externally and is supported by online and teleconference discussions workshops and a comprehensive package of study materials. Nurses studying the program will undertake a clinical component as part of each course which can be undertaken in their current workplace if suitable.

Entry requirements include a relevant undergraduate degree or equivalent experience. Registered nurses can choose to complete the Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing as a pathway to becoming eligible for registrations as a mental health nurse. More information about the new graduate diploma is available from Associate Professor Eimear Muir-Cochrane on (08) 8302 2751 or via email.
 

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