Working with Serious Mental Illness

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Appraise interventions, strategies and approaches that support those living with serious mental illness to stay well and live well alongside their mental illness.
• Exploring creative and novel approaches to managing symptoms of serious mental illness across the life span and recognition of the role of families and carers in this provision.
• Apply knowledge of the risks of polypharmacy, drug interactions, and adverse drug reactions to develop strategies through a PSI framework that optimises medication management and enhances patient safety.
• Analyse navigating complex mental health presentations and that include co-morbidity, social factors, stigma and multi-agency working.

The Working with Serious Mental Illness module provides nursing students with the knowledge and skills necessary to support individuals living with complex and enduring mental health conditions and trauma. A strong emphasis is placed on recovery-oriented approaches that empower individuals to live well with their illness, but recognising that families and carers play an important part in this journey. Students will explore a range of interventions, including psychosocial intervention strategies, therapeutic communication techniques, and innovative symptom management approaches that are tailored to individuals and families across the lifespan. Furthermore, the module also highlights the importance of holistic care, considering the social determinants of mental health, the impact of shame and stigma, and the need for culturally sensitive, multi-agency collaboration in supporting service users with co-morbid conditions. Additionally, forensic nursing is introduced, allowing students to understand the complexities of working with individuals involved in the criminal justice system, including ethical considerations, a diverse forensic population (e.g ethnicity and autism & neuro-diversity) , rehabilitation pathways, and risk management strategies. Medication management is also a critical component of this module, with a focus on the risks of polypharmacy, drug interactions, and adverse drug reactions. Students will learn to apply a Psychosocial Interventions (PSI) framework to ensure safe and effective medication practices that prioritise patient well-being. Through interactive discussions and problem-based learning, students will critically analyse strategies to optimise concordance and minimise harm while working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams. Overall, this module prepares students to navigate the complexities of serious mental illness with confidence, compassion, and evidence-based expertise.

This module will be taught using a variety of learning and teaching approaches including: • Lectures • Seminars/workshops • Guided independent study

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Presentation

• Assessment Type: Formative
• Feedback:
• Final Assessment:
• Group Work: No

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.