Mental Health

Child and youth care workers regularly engage with and support young people experiencing mental health challenges that can interfere with their optimal emotional, behavioural, psychological, social, and academic functioning. Students examine mental health diagnoses affecting children and youth across developmental stages and prepare to respond using relational, strengths-based, and evidence-informed approaches. Students learn about DSM-V disorders including early-onset conditions such as ADHD, Autism, anxiety and conduct disorders, as well as later-onset diagnoses such as eating disorders, mood disorders, schizophrenia, and personality disorders. Students also examine non-suicidal self-injury and suicidality. Emphasis is placed on understanding etiology, symptom presentation, and impact of symptoms. Through case-based learning, students develop introductory knowledge and foundational skills related to therapeutic, intervention, and advocacy practices in school and community settings in response to mental health challenges.