| CODE | DBS5017 | |||||||||
| TITLE | Psycho-Social Disabilities | |||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | |||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | |||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | |||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Disability Studies | |||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | Up to now, psychosocial disabilities have been examined within the field of psychiatry and health sciences. A rights-based approach will be taken in this study-unit in order to provide students with a more holistic picture of the lived experiences of people with mental health conditions. In this study-unit, therefore, students will be introduced to psychosocial disabilities. People with mental health issues are one of the most marginalised impairment-groups. They face stigma and discrimination and numerous barriers to exercising their civil, economic, social and cultural rights. This is further compounded by issues such as fear of disclosure, poverty, family problems, and substance abuse. Further barriers specific to this impairment-group include discriminatory legislation and practices depriving persons with psychosocial disabilities of legal capacity and liberty, and by violence, abuse, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment on the basis of their disability. In fact, “If disability is one of the great human rights challenges of this century, then within this, psychosocial disability remains one of the most challenging and misunderstood areas of disability”(Deany, 2016). Such disabilities, even more than others, are still embedded within the medical/health sphere and therefore, this study-unit will guide students to also viewing psychosocial disabilities from the sociocultural and rights (UNCRPD) perspectives. Taken from these perspectives, psychosocial disabilities are not different from other disabilities and this is another issue that the study-unit will focus on. The complex realities lived by people with psychosocial disabilities will be analysed and reflected upon in order to examine whether the current support services, policies and practice within this field, are sufficiently empowering these people to get on with their lives. Possible solutions, such as hospital to community-based services and user-led organisations, will also be discussed. Study-Unit Aims: This study-unit aims to present the wide variety of psychosocial disabilities mainly from the social and rights-based perspectives. This will help students to critically reflect on the many complex factors (economic, attitudinal, political, institutional) that further disable people with mental health conditions. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Outline the wide variety of psychosocial disabilities. - Describe the specific impairment-related needs related to people with psychosocial disabilities. - Understand the multitude of barriers that people with mental health conditions meet with, namely attitudinal, economic, institutional, and political barriers. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Distinguish between biological impairment and social disablement in the context of psychosocial disabilities. - Analyse the socio-material challenges that are particular to people with hidden disabilities and compare/contrast to those of people with other disabilities. - Critically examine case studies/life stories of people with psychosocial disabilities from a right-based perspective. - Propose political and practical strategies and tools that can support people with psychosocial disabilities in their participation in society. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - Beresford, P. (2004). Madness, Distress, Research and a Social Model. Chapter 13. In ‘Implementing the Social Model of Disability: Theory and Research’ edited by Colin Barnes and Geof Mercer. Leeds: The Disability Press, pp. 208-222. https://disability-studies.leeds.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/library/Barnes-implementing-the-social-model-chapter-13.pdf - Beresford , P.(2010). A Straight Talking Introduction to Being a Mental Health Service User. PCCS Books. - Sweeney, A., Beresford, P., Faulkner, A., et al (Eds). (2009).This is Survivor Research. PCCS Books; 1st edition Supplementary Readings: - Foucault, M. (1961 - reprinted 2001). Madness and civilization: a history of insanity in the age of reason. Routledge. London. (not available) - Goffman, E. (1990). Stigma: Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity. Penguin. (not available) - Deany, P. (2016). Psychosocial Disability: one of the most misunderstood areas of disability. http://disabilityrightsfund.org/our-impact/insights/psychosocial-disability/ - Gibbons, R. (2010). “Us ‘mentals’, well we all belong in an asylum don’t we?” Negotiating the Self: A Study of the PsychoEmotional Disabilism Faced by Mental Health Service Users. https://disability-studies.leeds.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/library/Gibbons-RGibbons-MA-Dissertation-Rebekah-Gibbons-1st-sept.pdf |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Blended Learning | |||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Anne-Marie Callus Maria Victoria Gauci |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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