Course Outline

MHN702 Youth Mental Health and Neurobiology

Course Coordinator:Michelle Kennedy (mkenned1@usc.edu.au) School:School of Health - Psychology

2026Trimester 1

Online

Online You can do this course without coming onto campus, unless your program has specified a mandatory onsite requirement.

Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

Adolescence is a dynamic period of significant physical changes, cognitive development and emotional maturation. It can also be a tumultuous period, as the brain undergoes significant structural and functional changes. Half of mental health conditions emerge by 14 years of age, hence the need for understanding of adolescent neurobiology. In this course, you will investigate the neurobiology of the disorders that emerge in adolescence, and focus on specialised youth mental health services, as well as key factors including social connectedness, digital life and sleep-wake patterns.  

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Online
Online – The online activities will include a variety of asynchronous, interactive learning materials, and options for lecturer and peer to peer collaborations, and lecturer and peer zoom drop-ins. 3hrs Week 1 12 times

Course Topics

  • The adolescent brain and neurocognition
  • Youth mental health services
  • Mental health disorders in youth
  • Current issues in youth mental health e.g. cyberbullying, suicidality (*mature content)
  • Lifestyle factors in youth mental health

*Mature content may include adult themes

Mature Content

Adult themes

What level is this course?

700 Level (Specialised)

Demonstrating a specialised body of knowledge and set of skills for professional practice or further learning. Advanced application of knowledge and skills in unfamiliar contexts.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming...
1 Build an advanced understanding of adolescent neurocognition, neurobiology, and treatment approaches to youth mental health. Knowledgeable
2 Identify and interpret the scientific evidence base on major themes in youth mental health and neurobiology. Empowered
3 Critically appraise and synthesize the scientific evidence base on major themes in youth mental health and neurobiology. Creative and critical thinker
4 Apply advanced science communication skills appropriate to the purpose, audience, and context when discussing complex youth mental health issues and concepts. Engaged
5 Identify and explore the impact of a youth mental health issue in a given sub-group. Creative and critical thinker

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

Must be enrolled in program AR503, AR602 or AR706 or SC546 or ED508

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Not applicable

Microcredential Information

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

You will be provided with multiple opportunities to gain early formative feedback relevant to your first assessment task, by completing the interactive self-check questions incorporated into your weekly online modules and learning materials.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Examination - not Centrally Scheduled Individual 20%
1 hour
Week 4 Online Test (Quiz)
All 2 Written Piece Individual 35%
1500 words
Week 9 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 3 Literature Review (or component) Individual 45%
3000 words
Exam Period Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All - Assessment Task 1:Online open book exam
Goal:
The goal is to demonstrate your understanding of adolescent neurocognition, neurobiology, and treatment approaches to youth mental health.
Product: Examination - not Centrally Scheduled
Authorship Statement:
Format:
You will respond online to a series of questions which will cover the learning materials from the first block of this course. This online exam will consist of 40 questions ranging from multiple choice, fill in the blank, true or false and short answer questions (practice questions will be provided).
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Build an advanced understanding of youth mental health concepts.
1
2
Identification of scientific evidence base in youth mental health and neurobiology.
2
3
Interpretation of scientific evidence base in youth mental health and neurobiology.
2
Generic Skills:
Problem solving, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 2:Frontiers for Young Minds paper
Goal:
The goal is to identify and explore the impact of mental disorders in youth and apply science communication skills to adapt this to be suitable for a young audience.
Product: Written Piece
Authorship Statement:
Format:
You will interpret evidence for the impacts of mental disorders in youth relevant to a chosen sub-group and will present your piece in line with the Frontiers for Young Minds article guidelines and format. Your article will develop the younger audiences’ appreciation of vulnerability to mental health disorders within certain sub-groups.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Interpretation of evidence-base
2
2
Identification of the impact of a youth mental health issue within a given sub-group.
5
3
Exploration of the impact of a youth mental health issue within a given sub-group.
5
4
Application of advanced communication skills appropriate to purpose, audience, and context.
4
Generic Skills:
Communication, Problem solving
All - Assessment Task 3:Review paper
Goal:
The goal is to appraise and synthesise the advancements in our understanding of youth mental health disorders in relation to current issues affecting youth.
Product: Literature Review (or component)
Authorship Statement:
Format:
In relation to a youth mental health disorder, you will interpret the evidence for how current issues impacting youth affects their neurobiology. You will present this as a review article in line with the guidelines and format provided, and your review will synthesise the impact of the issues with regards to brain development and neurocognition on your chosen disorder.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Interpretation of evidence base on major themes in current youth mental health issues and neurobiology.
2
2
Critical appraisal on major themes in current youth mental health issues and neurobiology.
3
3
Synthesis of major themes in current youth mental health issues and neurobiology.
3
4
Application of advanced communication skills appropriate to purpose, audience and context
4
Generic Skills:
Communication

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

You need regular access to the resource(s) below. Many texts are available as ebooks through the Library at no additional cost.

Required? Author Year Title Edition Publisher
Required n/a 0 No prescribed text. Key readings will be provided each week through the library course readings n/a n/a

Specific requirements

All work submitted for assessment is to be word processed and submitted electronically. It is expected that students will have ready access to a computer with common productivity software and reliable Internet access.

How are risks managed in this course?

Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.

The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

For course-specific questions, contact your teaching staff or Course Coordinator.  

For other enquiries or to access support, please contact Student Central: