Mental Health Issues

Course description

In this course, students examine issues that confront criminal justice personnel addressing historic and current concepts of abnormal behaviour and mental health. Students explore key theories associated with describing and classifying mental health issues, their relationship to criminal behaviour and best practice interventions. Students examine the evolution of relevant federal and provincial legislations and policies relating to persons with mental illnesses including the Mental Health Act. Considerations are given to various legal and institutional responses including procedures pertaining to the arrest, detention and processing of individuals through the Canadian criminal justice system. Specific attention is given to criminal defence, fitness to stand trial and the legal/ethical issues related to the treatment of the persons with mental health issues. In addition, students apply the theories relating to human behaviour to reducing the far reaching effects of mental health and its relationship to occupational stress injuries.

Students registering for credit courses for the first time must declare a program at the point of registration. Declaring a program does not necessarily mean students must complete a program, individual courses may be taken for skill improvement and upgrading.

For more information, please contact Continuing Education