| CODE | SWB5005 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Systemic Approaches to Understanding Mental Wellbeing of Children | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 10 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Faculty for Social Wellbeing | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This unit will focus on the systemic perspective as a theoretical framework in order to engage students in an exploration of those social, cultural and environmental factors that may play a role in the mental wellbeing of children and adolescents. Whilst subscribing to a non-pathologising stance, a broad look at the family, context, relationships, culture and community will be encouraged in order to allow students to understand and reflect upon multifactorial issues related to child and adolescent mental health. Topics to be included are: Conceptual framework for understanding children & adolescents mental health: a systemic & resilience perspective Stages in the family life cycle and common challenges Parenting and its impact on child development and wellbeing Changing family forms and child wellbeing Children living in vulnerable families Mental health in children and Schools The care of children and work family balance Children in the Digital Age Study-unit Aims: This unit aims to assist students in understanding the factors that may play a role in the mental wellbeing of children and adolescents from a systemic perspective. Through a comprehensive look at society, family, gender, race and other factors, an exploration of the realities and challenges that may impact mental health shall be undertaken. This will allow students to partake a non-pathologising stance whilst reflecting on the current evidence-base on child and adolescent mental wellbeing. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Critically discuss and analyse how multiple factors can affect the mental wellbeing of children and adolescents, as explained by a systemic model; - Appreciate the impact of the development of mental health problems on the child or adolescent and his/her family; - Become familiar with contemporary challenges/realities that children and adolescents may face e.g. living in vulnerable families, impact of digital techology etc.; - Access and analyse the contemporary evidence base and debates on family, societal and cultural influences on mental wellbeing. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Describe the main tenets of the systemic framework; - Engage in a critical reflection and discussion on the various societal factors that children, adolescents and their families may be subjected to and which may threaten mental wellbeing; - Formulate a systemic assessment that focuses on the individuals as being central to contexts such as community, family, gender and race. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Essential texts Abela, A. & Walker, J. (Eds). (2013). Contemporary Issues in Family Studies. Wiley Blackwell Golombok,S. (2015). Modern Families: Parents and Children in New Family Forms. UK: Cambridge University Press Barnes,G.G. (2017). Staying attached: Fathers and children in troubled times. UK: Karnac |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Co-Requisite Study-units: MNH5014; PSC5103 | ||||||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Fieldwork | ||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Angela Abela (Co-ord.) Claire Abela Samuel Aquilina Charlene Borg Claire Casha Colette Farrugia Bennett Lorleen Farrugia Maria Lisa Gilson Melissa Mifsud Adele Muscat Kylie Dawn Poppe Clarissa Sammut Scerri Allison Zammit Said |
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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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