Mind-Body Wellness

Subject Overview

The historical belief that mind and body are separate experiences is being challenged by contemporary scientific evidence which suggests that a “whole person” perspective is essential to understanding the product knows as “a state of mental health”. In this subject, you will explore and analyse psychological, emotional, physical, social, and environmental factors from a mind-body perspective that can contribute to, or work against, the mental health and wellbeing of individuals, their families, communities, cultures and societies. The Mind-Body Wellness subject is designed to enable students to explore and critically analyse the principles of, and research in, mindbody wellness in the context of mental health. The pedagogical approach will be a mix of collaborative learning via group discussions, personal and group online research, presented information, experiential learning, relevant readings and multi-media resources.

Learning Outcomes

1. Analyse contemporary theories of mind-body wellness in relation to personal, social, political and environmental implications of mental wellness.
2. Critically analyse the physiological and psychological roles that stress, exercise, nutrition, education, social context, spiritual life and the environment play in contributing to mental health and wellbeing in the workplace and in daily life, and develop strategies to modify activities that increase risk of disease or illness.
3. Discuss insights of Buddhist philosophy – and other spiritual belief systems – on mental health and wellness.
4. Critically analyse the basic principles, techniques, physiological impacts, applications, supporting evidence and controversies for selected traditional therapies as they pertain to mental health.
5. Apply reflective practice to examining one’s own insights into personal wellbeing and health, from a mind-body perspective.

Assessments

• Assessment 1, Part A, B, C: Quizzes (30%)
• Assessment 1, Part D: Reflective Journal (15%)
• Assessment 2: Essay (55%)