Psychology of Mental Health and Illness 2: CYC 324-OLB
Tina Lackner, BACYC, MSc, RP (CPT) (CYA-RCYT) (RYT300)
Mental Health & Illness Personal Na
ative Assignment
Value: 20%
Due: Week #12: April 14, 2021 by 11:59pm
Rationale: As a professional CYCP, the context of mental health work is prevalent in many
settings. As part of interdisciplinary teams, the CYCP has a crucial role in
understanding and articulating na
atives to support and advocate for children and
youth. The role of a CYCP begins with recognizing and understanding the context
of mental health and illness within professional practice. Articulating a personal
na
ative can assist with the development of the CYCP within a professional
context.
Purpose: This assignment serves to contextualize the professional within the context of
working with young people living with mental illness and create a platform that
articulates the self as a CYCP.
By using creative means, you will identify and situate yourself as a CYCP and
construct a cumulative learning na
ative that articulates the development of you
as a professional who will work alongside children and youth living with mental
illness.
This assignment is meant to pull from cumulative learning and highlight elements
in response to the question of “Who Am I as a Professional CYCP working with
young people living with mental illness?”
This assignment is, in part, an analysis of what you have learned and, in part, a
eflection of yourself as a professional CYCP with greater knowledge of mental
health and illness.
Expectations/Steps:
1. Think about what you have learned by being a student of CYC 324 – this can
include but is not limited to: your understanding of mental health and illness,
legal and ethical issues, stigma, CYC approaches to working with mental
illness, specific diagnoses etc. Take note of what has resonated for you over
the course of the semester regarding mental health and illness. Reflect on the
process of learning you have had as well as what content you have specifically
learned about.
2. Choose your focus – what stands out as theme of your learning? Some
thoughts on this might be:
• learning about mental health diagnoses
• challenging ethical issues and responsibility
• learning how to integrate the CYC lens into an interdisciplinary team
• learning to use what you already know and have built upon regarding
mental health and illness
• discovering that there are a particular group of diagnoses that you have
found particularly interesting that you can see yourself working with
• any areas of professionalism as it relates to mental health and illness.
NOTE: This is really open.
3. Once you know your focus, choose a platform for communicating your
na
ative. This is open. You can choose to do a power point presentation or
eflective paper. Or you can use your creativity to communicate the na
ative
(video, prezi, blog, podcast, story book, recorded interview…the possibilities
are as far reaching as your creativity). Whatever platform you choose, you
should be able to provide a link, if it is a media platform or video, that is
accessible to the instructor without membership (i.e. do not use social media
platforms that require sign up; if you create a post of some sort that could be
used as a post, create the post separately from the venue).
Note: if you choose to do a video, it may need to be submitted as a link through
google docs or a private you tube link as large videos overwhelm the capacity
of Blackboard.
4. Submit assignment on Blackboard. If it is a video link, submit the link. If you
are completing any research be sure to site the sources you have used.
Regardless of platform or format you choose, all assignments must Include:
1. An Introduction:
• Provide an introduction to the topic of mental health and illness and what platform
you have chosen and why.
• Provide introductory information about what you would like to focus on and what
has resonated for you in the course.
2. A clear description of your focus:
• Provide an explanation of your intent and areas of focus.
• Try to encapsulate your ideas into a few key themes. Some examples of these
may include (but are not limited to):
o Challenging personal ethics
o Gaining understanding about working as a CYCP with people living with
mental illness
o Understanding the impact of the stigmatizing images and na
atives
o Learning about diagnoses that you have not previously been familiar with
or learning more about particular diagnoses (only focus on diagnoses
discussed in this course)
o Finding new compassion and understanding for people living with mental
illness or finding an area particularly interesting and wanting to work with
the population
o Developing further knowledge of the language of mental health work (i.e.
person-first language, como
idity, medication, Mental status exam,
understanding the psychological paradigms etc)
o Other areas that resonate for you from the course
3. Theoretical, Philosophical and Personal Na
ative:
• This sounds more complicated than it is – essentially, provide a story in some way
– identify how the story connects content and personal na
ative. So, not only what
did you learn, but how does this fit with or challenge how you may have previously
thought about mental illness/working with individuals living with mental illness?
Include a connection to which paradigm or paradigms you see yourself
aligning with.
• If you have focused on course content, be sure to also share your cu
ent thoughts
about being a CYCP working in mental health work. Why is it meaningful, why
might it challenge you or why would it be an area you are not interested in? (you
will not be penalized if you are not interested in this area of work but if so, you must
discuss how it challenges you – remember – any sector you choose to work in will
present you with young people living with mental illness).
Conclusion: Sum it up – Wrap up your ideas and process and conclude the assignment.
Total: 40 Marks = 20% of your final grade – see Assignment Ru
ic for
eakdown of the grade
Psychology of Mental Health and Illness 2: CYC 324-OLA ~ Mental Health & Illness Personal Na
ative Assignment RUBRIC
Student Name: ___________________________________
Area 0-20%
Missing required
concepts of the
assignment
30-40%
Demonstration of
some knowledge
and understanding
are present.
50– 60%
Understanding of
the concepts are
demonstrated
70-80%
Knowledge or the
concepts are
evident and
professionally
described.
90-100%
Material is clear and demonstrates
highly developed knowledge and
understanding of the topic as it
elates to CYC.
XXXXXXXXXX10
Introduction No introduction
provided or difficult
to follow
Introduction basic
and
ief – does
not fully outline
connection and
focus – missing key
information
Introduction meets
minimal
expectations;
covered some of
the required
information but
lacks sufficient
detail
Introduction meets
expectations,
covered required
areas. Provides
description of
platform and
connections to why
the platform was
chosen. Provides
information about
the focus – could
e more detailed
Excellent introduction, provides
articulate description of chosen
platform and meaningful connections
to why the platform was chosen.
Provides detailed introductory
information about the focus of the
assignment and what has resonated
in the course; highly professional and
articulate.
XXXXXXXXXX10
Focus – including
impact and
elevance of
chosen platform
Brief and unclear
focus or confusing.
Unclear intent and
area of focus –
either too
ief or
disorganized.
Platform and
execution appear
to lack thought
about how to
present
information
effectively.
Meets minimal
expectations;
covered some
themes but not
cohesive or don’t
show connection to
the course.
Platform makes
sense for direction
of the focus.
Focus meets
expectations;
covered some
themes but could
have more detail
and connection to
the course.
Platform makes
sense and
demonstrates
professionalism.
Areas of focus are clear; identified
clearly some key themes to learning
and integrated knowledge focused
areas of the course; utilized the
chosen platform well and makes
sense. Articulates using professional
language of the course.
XXXXXXXXXX11-12
Theoretical,
philosophical and
personal na
ative
Missing this
component or does
not use the
platform well to
articulate ideas.
Lacking connection
to professional
practice and/or
mental health work
and/or paradigms.
Unclear and/or
ief.
Disconnected and
lacks flow. Does
not make
meaningful
connections. Does
not clearly
articulate
connection to
paradigm(s).
Formulation
provided. Meets
minimal
expectations.
Understandable
and clear but lacks
depth of concepts
and construct of
professional
na
ative. Does not
adequately connect
to paradigms.
Good formulation.
Professional and
articulate. Uses
platform to
connect course to
personal na
ative.
Demonstrates
insight. Some
details may be
missing – e.g. clear
connections to
paradigms, details
about meaning or
challenges to
professionalism.
Excellent formulation. Professionally
and articulately makes strong use of
platform to connect course content
and personal na
ative. Clearly
demonstrates insight into working
with individuals living with mental
illness and how this aligns with
professional na
ative. Utilizes the
platform effectively to articulate the
na
ative and connects to meaning.
Clearly