Course Code: CYC 324
Academic Year: 2025-2026
Child and Youth Care practitioners play an important role in the complex care of children and youth who live with mental illness. Central to this course is building on the foundations developed in CYC 213, and explores specific disorders and aspects of mental health and illness. Students are invited to think about working with the complexities of mental health and illness through a holistic lens in an intentional way, so that they not only explore diagnoseable illnesses but also critically think about challenging societal stigma and promote advocacy. Students will learn about legal and ethical issues alongside theoretical and diagnostic categories of specific, complex disorders such as schizophrenia, eating disorders, somatic symptom disorders and personality disorders among others. Critical thinking regarding child and youth care practice is encouraged to explore students' own philosophies while linking theory and practice. Key components of the course analyze stigma and implications of working with children, youth and their families approached under various theoretical models.