Specialization education in mental health and substance abuse work: MPERKO23

Descriptions

Strong professional skills are needed to treat mental health and substance abuse problems of all ages. Specialization education strengthens student`s skills, whether student works in promotional or preventive activities or in care and rehabilitation.

Specialization education in mental health and substance abuse work is suitable for highly educated social and health care professionals who do not yet have extensive experience in mental health and substance abuse work. You can have a bachelor's degree or a college degree.

The key areas of expertise in specialization education in mental health and substance abuse work are a broad understanding of mental health, mental health and substance abuse work and a perspective of professional expertise. The service system and service coordination expertise in line with the change in social and health services, as well as a clear emphasis on client-oriented thinking, among other things through the strengthening of inclusion and experimental knowledge, have been highlighted in the learning objectives.

Strong competence in the field and competence in interprofessional co-operation are important so that the student has the ability not only to guide, but also to support and care for people with mental health and substance abuse problems and their relatives. The opportunities brought by digitalisation in mental health and substance abuse work require new skills.

Being a mental health and substance abuse professional requires the identification and continuous development of one's own knowledge, skills, and attitudes in order to maintain one's own professional skills, so these have been described as one area of expertise.

The primary target group of the education is those who have completed a bachelor level degree or a college-level degree in social- and health care and who have sufficient knowledge and skills to complete specialization education.

Further information

Courses (30 ects)
Basics of mental health and substance abuse care 2 ects
Person-centeredness in mental health and substance abuse care 5 ects
Needs assessment and care in mental health and substance abuse problems 5 ects
Methods and interventions in mental health and substance abuse care 8 ects
Mental health and substance abuse service systems 5 ects
Developing mental health and substance abuse care 5 ects