Overview
Mental health emergencies form a considerable part of the case load for workers in the prehospital arena. It is necessary for these providers to be aware of the incidence, the presentations and the care of mental illness. In addition it is imperative that good communication, assessment and risk management skills … For more content click the Read More button below.
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Aims
Mental health and mental illness within the community are a significant concern for those who work in the pre-hospital health care field. This topic explores the characteristics and prevalence of mental illness encountered in the pre-hospital setting. This includes the utilisation of mental health services, their availability, and the individual and social implications of living with a mental illness. The topic introduces students to current thinking in mental health reform, strategies for assessment, risk management and safe and effective provision of care. Emphasis is placed on safe and effective communication skills and the use of de-escalation when attending acute presentations.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this topic you will be expected to be able to:
1.
Critique the role of the Australian mental health system, current policy, reform, and referral pathways and how these affect the provision of safe and culturally appropriate paramedic care for those with mental health concerns
2.
Explain the importance of empathy, the lived experience, patient advocacy and the development of a clinically therapeutic relationship to the delivery of holistic person-centred emergency mental health care
3.
Examine the effects of stigma, discrimination, the social determinates of health and existing stereotypes on mental health, wellbeing and illness and paramedic clinical care
4.
Explain and discuss common mental health presentations, their pathophysiology, social and psychological aetiology, and their paramedic management including the evaluation of suicide and self-harm ideation and attempts
5.
Conduct, apply, document and handover a mental state examination, mental state assessment and risk assessment when caring for someone presenting with mental health concerns
6.
Evaluate the application of advanced communication skills, psychotherapeutic techniques and safe pharmacological administration to the paramedic management of mental health presentations
7.
Debate the legal, ethical and risk frameworks in mental health care and how they apply to the administration and application of mechanical and chemical restraint in paramedic practice
Assessments
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Requisites information
Pre-requisites:
Anti-requisites:
Assumed knowledge
Basic Life Support.