HNN789 - The Physical Health Needs of Persons with Mental Illness
Unit details
| Year | 2026 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes: | Trimester 2 2025: Online |
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Unit Chair: | Trimester 2: Alana Wilson |
| Cohort rule: | This unit is only available to students enrolled in H568, H569, H575, H645, H665, H666, H667, H668, H669, H672, H675, H679, H771, H777, H779 |
| Prerequisite: | Nil |
| Corequisite: | Nil |
| Incompatible with: | Nil |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment: | Online independent and collaborative learning activities delivered, including 3 x 1-hour online seminar |
| Typical study commitment: | Students will on average spend 150 hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. |
Content
It is well understood that people living with mental illness have significantly poorer physical health outcomes and have a life expectancy up to 20 years lower than people without mental illness. The reasons for this advanced mortality are multifactorial and are influenced by treatment, social determinants of health and stigma. This unit is designed to advance nurses’ understanding and knowledge of the physical health issues associated with mental illness and its treatments to optimise the health experiences of people living with mental illness. In this unit, students will explore the significant iatrogenic complications commonly experienced by consumers taking psychotropic medications, including metabolic syndrome and other conditions caused by medication-induced obesity. Students will broaden their understanding of and critically reflect on the complexities of mental health treatment, and cognitive biases such as diagnostic overshadowing to improve their nursing practice, whilst optimising consumer health.
Learning outcomes
| ULO | These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) |
|---|---|---|
| ULO1 | Explore the impact of psychotropic medication side effects and iatrogenic illness on reduced consumer engagement to treatment. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO2 | Apply a comprehensive understanding of metabolic syndrome including causes, prevention, and nursing assessment, interventions and evaluation. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO3 | Critically reflect on the roles and responsibilities of the Australian healthcare system and nurses, in relation to diagnostic overshadowing, and the subsequent impacts to consumers physical health. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
Assessment
| Assessment description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1: Written assignment | 2500 words | 50% |
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| Assessment 2: Annotated bibliography | 2500 words | 50% |
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The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Learning resource
The texts and reading list for HNN789 can be found via the University Library.
Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
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To support student success at Deakin, we have a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) learning environment that acknowledges that students and educators bring with them the digital tools they regularly use to complete academic tasks. These tools stay with you beyond the classroom, helping you to keep learning, explore ideas more deeply, and connect with knowledge in ways that matter to you.
Students requiring a loan device should visit our Loan Laptop webpage or students requiring longer-term assistance should visit our Student Financial Assistance webpage.
Unit Fee Information
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.