Introduction

Mental health emergencies, like any emergency, requires instant recognition, swift reaction and appropriate management to avert potentially fatal outcomes. This is especially true in a primary care setting where the healthcare worker is often the first contact to encounter psychiatric emergencies. It is thus essential that all healthcare providers have the knowledge and skills to manage a potentially violent and aggressive patient, to deflect the aggression, to appraise patients with suicidal intentions and to manage all psychiatric emergencies related to catatonia. It is crucial that healthcare workers recognise drug adverse effects of psychiatric medication and be able to implement corrective action. This short course will improve the awareness, contribute to improved skills and competencies of those who care for and treat mentally ill patients and hence contribute to better outcomes and quality of care of these most vulnerable persons in our society.

Who Should Enrol

All healthcare providers that are providing services to patients inclusive of those suffering from mental illnesses.

Course Design

Online Course

Course Content

There are 4 modules in included in this course:

  1. The aggressive patient
  2. The suicidal patient
  3. Malignant catatonia
  4. Medication-induced side effects

Learning Outcomes

On achieving this course, a learner will be able to:

  • Demonstrate appropriate techniques to identify and interview an aggressive patient to ensure optimal safety for all.
  • Appraise a patient with suicidal ideation and implement a safety plan with protective factors
  • Recognise symptoms, evaluate and treat a patient presenting with signs and symptoms of catatonia
  • Demonstrate knowledge of drugs utilised in psychiatry to recognise adverse effects by evaluating patients presenting with five specific conditions and implementing corrective action for these.

Certification

Participants will be awarded a certificate of completion upon working through all contents and successfully completing the assessment process. A CPD certificate will be awarded if a cumulative pass mark of 70% is obtained.

Assessment

Participants are required to complete a multiple-choice questionnaire at the end of each module for which a cumulative pass rate of 70% is required.

Accreditation

Accredited according to the HPCSA’s Medical and Dental Board Guidelines for Healthcare Professionals for 8 Clinical CEU’s on Level 2.

 

 

 

Contact

Tel: 087 821 1109

Fax: 086 550 3692

E-mail: healthscience@foundation.co.za

Address: P.O. Box 75324, Lynnwood Ridge, 0040

Website: www.foundation.co.za




Enquire Now

Level 1: Foundations of Primary Behavioural Healthcare

6.0 CPD Points


Level 1