HS291-5-AU-CO:
Emotional, Relational and Mental Health Issues
2026/27
Health and Social Care (School of)
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Undergraduate: Level 5
Current
Friday 02 October 2026
Saturday 05 December 2026
15
29 July 2024
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
BA L500 Social Work,
BA L500CO Social Work,
BA L550 Social Care,
BA L550CO Social Care
The module focuses on developing understanding, skills and confidence to support the student undertaking the social work role. Emotional, relational and mental health issues are frequently ambiguous and uncertain and working effectively in this field can be stressful and disturbing. The module will support the student to explore effective work strategies and other means to build their own resilience and to understand approaches to support others.
The module aims to provide the student with an introduction and overview of the theoretical approaches and perspectives relevant to the social work role in relation to working with mental health issues.
The module is focused on supporting the student to explore aspects of mental health, attitudes and responses to mental health issues, understandings of well-being and developing and promoting well-being.
On successful completion of this module, the [learner] will be able to:
1. Examine and explain the interdisciplinary nature of mental health, emotional and relational issues and the importance of interdisciplinary inter agency working.
2. Explore and demonstrate understanding of the experiences of service users and the impact of mental health, emotional and relational issues and the support available for those issues, on individuals, families and communities.
3. Outline and detail the ambiguous and uncertain nature of working with individuals and families with emotional, relational and mental health issues and explore the roles of the accountable social worker, independent advocacy and other services in providing support.
Mental Health, resilience and well-being are interdisciplinary fields which draw significantly on sociology, psychology, anthropology, social policy, philosophy, ethics and medical sciences. Mental Health practice is an interdisciplinary activity and involves individuals, organisations and professions with an extensive diversity of skills, knowledge and experience
The students will be supported through the delivery of the module to work closely with service users (Experts by Experience) to explore the personal and professional understandings of mental health. Professionals from other spheres will also be involved in the delivery of the module. Issues related to rights and professional ethics will be explored including in depth exploration of advocacy and empowerment
The module will combine a number of different teaching approaches, incorporating lectures, group work and EBE led sessions to introduce key concepts in social work practice while relating it to everyday practice.
Lectures:
Lectures by module lead, Experts by Experience and colleagues.
Independent:
Small/ PBL group work and independent work on searching the literature and any research related activities. Practice and presentations to be discussed on sphere of practice.
Online:
Online resources will be made available on Moodle.
Tutorials:
It is the student's responsibility to seek tutorial support as needed.
Skills:
As part of their independent learning the student will be expected to engage in a range of research related activities: searching the literature, visiting the library, attending seminars and participating in conferences (where appropriate).
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Hornbacher, M. (2006) Wasted. HarperCollins Publishers.
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van Eijk, M. (2018) How Not to Fall Apart. Penguin Putnam Inc.
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Gordon, B. (2023) Mad Girl. London: Headline Publishing Group.
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Morgan, G. (2018) Start. Life under a compulsory community treatment order. Fledgling Press.
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Rausing, S. (2018) Mayhem. New York: Random House USA Inc.
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Nevatia, S. (2017) How to Travel Light. New Delhi: Penguin Books India Pvt Ltd.
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Belkin Martinez, D. and Fleck-Henderson, A. (eds) (2014)
Social Justice in Clinical Practice. London: Taylor & Francis Ltd. Available at:
https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/185491.
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Plath, S. (2024) Bell Jar. True Sign Publishing House Private Limited.
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Ryan, S. and Kennedy, B.H. (2017)
Justice for laughing boy: Connor Sparrowhawk - a death by indifference. London, [England]: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. Available at:
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=5058945.
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's
reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Individual Study |
|
|
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Ms Aisha Howells, email: a.howells@essex.ac.uk.
ugsocialworkqueries@essex.ac.uk
No
No
No
No external examiner information available for this module.
Available via Moodle
Of 12 hours, 12 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.
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