Course description

Behavioural Conditions & Emergencies is designed to provide paramedics with the foundational knowledge and interpersonal skills necessary to effectively and appropriately manage mental health patients and other behavioural emergencies. Students will acquire knowledge of the causes, processes and manifestations of mental illness and of common behavioural and emotional presentations that may or may not meet diagnostic criteria for mental illness. Students will learn how human development and culture impacts on mental health and will learn interpersonal skills to interact with diverse age groups and cultural backgrounds. particularly in the role of crisis intervention. Students will also be taught the commonly-used psychiatric medications and their side-effects, overdose implications, etc. Pre-hospital management within relevant government mental health policy and legislation as well as core ethical principles will also be taught. Students will build on the communication skills learned in the clinical skills courses (PMDC2100, PMDC2200) and will also be expected to use an evidence-based practice approach to the clinical management of their patients. This course will be delivered in block mode to accommodate Paramedic Clinical Placement 2 (PMDC2203).

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