Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE LAS2047

 
TITLE Mind Your Head – The Mental Fitness Guide

 
UM LEVEL H - Higher Level

 
MQF LEVEL 6

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Centre for the Liberal Arts and Sciences

 
DESCRIPTION ‘No health without mental health’ is a frequently quoted phrase in the mental health field which is extremely powerful. This statement highlights the importance of investing in our psychological well-being. The mind is a powerful tool, but without good training our moods, thoughts and behaviour can sabotage one’s goals and cause anxiety and depression. The objective for this course is to gain insight on hoe to keep mentally fit in order to enjoy life to the fullest.

Positive aspects of mental health comprise concepts such as well-being and happiness. An increased emphasis relating to this construct has seen a global shift which acknowledges the need to address mental health as an integral part of improving overall health and well-being.

This Unit is both an invitation and a guide. It is an invitation to all to find more enjoyment in life and a guide, and a guide for achieving such enjoyment.

The Unit ‘Mind Your Head’ is intended to establish that with positive attitudes and skills, a person can develop and build a healthy mind. This will help to tune the mind and cope with the intransigences of everyday life. It also supports participants with up-to-date information on how to take decisions, strenghten their memory, recover from potential crisis and more (WHO,2001).

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the Unit the student will:

- Be able to facilitate the process of positive experience that can be put into practice.
- Be able to identify how mental well being can affect job performance.
- Become empowered through open communication and reward self development initiatives.
- Be able to create and enhane the work environment and for personal and professional success.

2. Skills:

By the end of the Unit the student will be able to:

- Build Confidence and Self-esteem, by discovering from where does this confidence come from? High or Low self-esteem? What is your sense of self worth?
- Develop a way of Being Assertive; expressing oneself effectively and standing up for your point of view, while also respecting the rights and beliefs of others.
- Improve time management and become skilled at spending time doing those things you value and things that help you reach your goals.
- Combat loneliness; a state of mind,feeling empty, alone and unwanted.
- Maintain healthy relationships... working together with other people – making things happen.
- Handling Stress; being able to learn how to reduce, prevent and cope with stress.
- Deal with abuse; identifying and dealing with different forms of abuse.
- Challenge the twin enemies of good moods: Anxiety and Depression.
- Improve memory; the mind is not a computer, we forget things that we learn through-out our life. How to develop habits that help improve memory.
- Identify the correlation between Spirituality and mental health.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Main Texts:

- Butler, G. & Hope, T. (2007). Manage Your Mind, The Mental Fitness Guide (2nd. Ed.) Oxford University Press, Oxford.
-Young, J. & Klosko, J. (1994). Reinventing your life: how to break free from negative life patterns. Plume; New York.
- Rowe, D. (2003). Depression: the way out of prison (3rd Ed.), Routledge, New York.
- Kinchin, D. (2005). Post-traumatic stress disorder: The invisible injury. Success Unlimited, London.
- Leebov, W. (2003). Assertiveness skills for Professionals in Healthcare. IUniverse Publishers; London.
- McKay, M. &Fanning, P. (2001). Self-Esteem. New-Harbinger; Oakland.

Supplementary Texts:

- Baddely, A. (2004). Your Memory: a user’s guide. Carlton Books; London.
- Cobb, M., Puchalski, C.M. & Rumbold, B. (2012). Oxford textbook of Spirituality in healthcare. Oxford Publishers, Oxford.
- Horvath, T., (1998). Sex, Drugs, Gambling & Chocolate. Inpact Publishers; San Luis.
- World Health Organization (2001). World health report—Mental Health: New Understanding, New Hope.
- World Health Organization (2005) Mental Health Action Plan for Europe: Facing the Challenges, Building Solutions. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization.

 
ADDITIONAL NOTES Pre-requisite knowledge, skills and competences:

There are no pre-requisites and the content is ideal for employees at all levels of work.

The Unit is suitable for employers who wish to enjoy good mental health, emphasising the importance of investing in their psychological well-being and having a better understanding of emotional well-being.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Presentation (20 Minutes) Yes 30%
Assignment Yes 70%

 
LECTURER/S

 

 
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.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit