Course Number: CHS233A
Course Title: Behavioral Health

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

General

Student will develop the capacity to identify and help to manage patients with (and those at risk for) mental disorders.

Specific

Students will be able to:

  1. Explain the 10 principles for health workers in the Code of Conduct of the International Red Cross as they apply both to disaster
      relief and community health  (see Community Health. Wood, CH. AMREF, 2nd ed. Nairobi Kenya, 1997.)
  2. Define confidentiality and explain why it is important for all health workers to preserve confidentiality.
  3. Demonstrate 3 techniques for establishing rapport with a patient.
  4. Describe the roles of family, host factors, environmental factors and social factors in the production of mental illness and
      addiction.
  5. Identify signs and symptoms that may indicate the presence of a mental health or substance abuse disorder.
  6. Identify safe traditional remedies for common psychiatric symptoms.
  7. Identify situations when it is dangerous to delay or interrupt modern medical treatments for mental health problems.
  8. Accurately classify mental health and substance abuse problems using standard assessment forms.
  9. Describe the typical time course of each condition, including the usual age of onset.
10. Select measures for management of common mental illnesses (including referral when appropriate) using standard management
      protocols.
11. Select measures for the rehabilitation of patients with mental illness.
12. Recognize signs and symptoms of child neglect and physical and sexual abuse.
13. Recognize signs and symptoms of spouse and elder abuse.
14. Describe indications for referral and/or reporting of suspected spouse, elder or child abuse.
15. Identify the location and function of organs affected by alcohol, tobacco, betel nut, amphetamines and inhaled agents
     (e.g. paint, gasoline, glue).
16. Describe how each agent causes dysfunction of affected organ systems.
17. Describe how dysfunction may result in symptoms, illness and death from each agent.
18. Identify behavioral risk factors for common medical diseases including cancers, diabetes, heart disease,
    hypertension, gout, STDs, and injuries.
19. Use a systematic approach to setting incremental and measurable behavior change goals with patients for
     modification of behavioral risk factors.
20. Demonstrate mastery in the use of flip charts to systematically deliver key messages about disease.
21. Demonstrate how to explain to families and village members how they can help people with psychosis and other
     major mental illness.
22. Use educational materials in order to promote understanding and motivation for people to change behavior.