Study Guide

Objectives

The objective of the course is to develop professional understanding of mental health and substance abuse problems. The course will enable students to work in primary care services, actively considering the significance of clients' mental health and substance abuse problems for overall well-being.

After completing the course, the student
• can work in a way that promotes mental health and prevents mental health and substance abuse problems in different settings
• can professionally encounter clients and families from different life situations and cultures, who have mental health and/or substance abuse problems or are in a crisis situation
• identifies and addresses the symptoms of mental health and/or substance abuse problems of clients of different ages
• can assess the need for care in cooperation with the patient and his/her family
• knows how to provide client-oriented care relationship (in mental health and substance abuse treatment)
• can assess the need for referral to specialized services or a specialist in collaboration with other professionals
• can take into account the situation of children and other close relatives in the event of a family member suffering from a mental health and/or substance use disorder
• can plan, implement and evaluate evidence-based nursing for mental health and/or substance misuse clients in primary services
• knows how to act as a nursing expert in cooperation with other professionals, the patient and the family
• knows how to use digital tools as a part of the nursing process
• can acquire the skills to deal with threatening interactions in a proactive and professional manner
• can reflect on the professional use of their own personality and identify their own development challenges, as well as make use of feedback
• knows the most common mental health and substance abuse disorders, their symptoms, diagnosis and treatments
• knows the key concepts and vocabulary of the course in Finnish
• can participate in patient guidance situations related to the course in Finnish according to their language proficiency level

Content

• mental health promotion, prevention of mental health and substance abuse problems in nursing and stigma reduction
• mental health and substance abuse service system and main laws and regulations governing mental health and substance abuse services
• methods for identifying mental health and substance abuse problems, interviewing and using key symptom indicators
• assessment of the need for mental health and substance misuse treatment in sudden crisis situations and during continuing care and rehabilitation
• key treatment methods in mental health and substance abuse treatment
• therapeutic interaction and client-centred guidance skills with people of different ages in mental health and substance abuse nursing
• care planning and structured recording in mental health and substance abuse treatment
• recovery-orientation in mental health and substance abuse nursing
• the use of digital tools in mental health and substance abuse treatment
• proactive action in threatening, escalating situations
• use and development of one's professional personality
• key terminology and vocabulary of the course in Finnish
• course practices also in Finnish

Prerequisites

30 ects credits of first year studies completed, including Pharmacotherapy and Medical Calculations.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

The student
• knows the basic principles of mental health promotion and prevention of mental health and substance abuse problems
• identifies essential mental health and substance abuse problems and evidence-based interventions in primary services
• knows the basics of therapeutic interaction and client-oriented guidance in mental health and substance abuse nursing
• knows the importance of using and developing your own professional personality
• knows what is meant by recovery orientation in mental health and substance abuse nursing
• knows the most common mental health and substance abuse disorders and medical treatment methods
• knows how to assess care needs and guide the client through the services

Assessment criteria, good (3-4)

The student
• understands the importance of mental health promotion and prevention of mental health and substance abuse problems in the overall well-being of the client
• can identify essential mental health and substance abuse problems and has the capacity to use key evidence-based interventions in basic services
• uses therapeutic interaction and client-centred guidance in mental health and substance abuse nursing
• recognizes the importance of one's own professional personality and its development
• can apply a recovery orientation in mental health and substance abuse nursing
• can identify the most common mental health and substance abuse disorders and their medical treatments
• can assess the need for treatment and guide the client and family in the service system

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

The student
• can apply the principles of mental health promotion and prevention of mental health and substance abuse problems at individual and community level
• knows the main mental health and substance abuse problems and is able to apply evidence-based intervention methods in basic services on an individual basis
• makes extensive use of therapeutic interaction and client-centered counselling, understanding their importance in mental health and substance abuse nursing
• knows how to use their own professional personality and understand the importance of developing it
• understands the importance of recovery orientation and can apply it in mental health and substance abuse nursing
• recognizes the most common mental health and substance abuse disorders and their diagnosis and be able to evaluate medical treatment methods
• can assess the need for treatment according to the severity of symptoms and the individual resources of the client, and have the capacity to work with family and networks