Mental Health and Substance Use

Description: This self-directed course focuses on introducing new students to the supports, services, and opportunities available at Conestoga College. By the end of this course, students will understand the academic expectations of the Conestoga learning environment, as well as the supports available to ensure their academic success. Students will also be able to identify on-campus services that support their health and wellness, and explore ways to get actively involved in the Conestoga community through co-curricular learning opportunities.

• Hours: 1
• Credits: 0
• Pre-Requisites:
• CoRequisites:
• Estimated required text and/or learning resource costs: No cost.

Description: This course focuses on an inter-disciplinary overview of mental health and substance use. Students will critically examine personal attitudes, societal myths, and stereotypes related to mental illness and substance abuse. Drawing on literature, arts, politics, media, medicine, and the social sciences, students will examine mental illness and substance abuse through various lenses and compare assumptions of agency, normalcy, treatment, and recovery.

• Hours: 42
• Credits: 3
• Pre-Requisites:
• CoRequisites:
• Estimated required text and/or learning resource costs: No cost.

Description: Mental health and substance use problems may have profound impacts on individuals, families, communities and societies. In this course, students will examine current measures used to assess the impact of mental health and substance use problems in Canada. Through in-class and online discussions, group work and assignments, students will reflect critically on how current data collection processes and performance indicators address incidence and prevalence of issues, and the needs of at-risk populations. Students will identify gaps and make recommendations to improve the data collection processes in order to inform program and policy development for at-risk populations in Canada.

• Hours: 42
• Credits: 3
• Pre-Requisites:
• CoRequisites:
• Estimated required text and/or learning resource costs: $117.35

Description: In this course, students will examine the use of a population mental health approach to promote mental health and well-being. Through assigned readings, discussions and in-class presentations students will better understand key interventions and components of programs and policies that promote and protect the mental health and well-being of Canadians across their life course.

• Hours: 42
• Credits: 3
• Pre-Requisites:
• CoRequisites:
• Estimated required text and/or learning resource costs: No cost.

Description: In this course, students will examine risk factors such as poverty and homelessness that can often elevate the risk for mental health and substance use problems. Students will follow current social issues in the media, and through class discussion, blog posts and the creation of an arts-based project, they will examine the root causes of mental health and substance use problems. Students will also recognize the impact of these societal issues and identify ways to advocate for changes to address inequities and meditate risk for specific populations.

• Hours: 42
• Credits: 3
• Pre-Requisites:
• CoRequisites:
• Estimated required text and/or learning resource costs: No cost.

Description: In this course, students will examine historical events and paradigm shifts that have influenced current interventions for emerging and existing mental health and substance use problems. Students will discuss evidence-based practices that incorporate recovery and strength-based approaches such as first episode psychosis programs, assertive community treatment teams, managed alcohol programs, peer support initiatives and “Housing First” strategies. Students will also critically examine how these evidence-based programs and interventions address the specific needs of at-risk populations in Canada.

• Hours: 42
• Credits: 3
• Pre-Requisites:
• CoRequisites:
• Estimated required text and/or learning resource costs: $35.00

Description: This seminar-based course will provide students with the opportunity to identify and develop skills, strengths and experiences in collaborative multisector practice through the creation of an eportfolio. Seminar topics will focus on the importance of ethics, critical reflection, communication and leadership skills, group dynamics, facilitation and interviewing, professional conduct and related legislation concerning confidentiality and informed consent. Through individual reflection, self-assessment and collaborative assessment, students will examine their personal and professional development needs and develop a learning contract for their practice-based activities in Semester II. Students will also collaborate with peers, faculty and practice-based community agencies to develop a proposal for a capstone knowledge integration project for Semester II.

• Hours: 42
• Credits: 3
• Pre-Requisites:
• CoRequisites:
• Estimated required text and/or learning resource costs: No cost.