There is a tendency for mental health and addictions to be viewed separately from other areas such as trauma/violence as though they have unique causes and outcomes. Taking an integrated perspective not only improves the student’s understanding of addiction but also invites them to understand collaboration across disciplines rather than in silos. In this course, students will begin to link theory with practice in mental health and addictions work, demonstrating that how one understands addictions will determine the response to it. Students will reflect on their own “theories” of mental health and addictions and will use this self-reflection as a starting point for discussion of key theoretical frameworks in the mental health and addictions field. Students will describe and examine their theories using the anti-oppressive approach. Students will apply their self-reflection and learning to include a multidimensional theory of mental health and addictions that takes into account biological, psychological, social and structural factors. Students will be able to apply mental health and addictions within a number of intersecting causes and influences with a range of individual, social and social-structural interventions and possible responses.
42 Hours
