Sexual, reproductive and mental health e-learning course

Published: 2011 | Free to use | Learning Management System compatible

These resources have been developed for you, a busy mental health professional, as an easy-to-use guide to key aspects of sexual and reproductive health in the context of mental illness, with clear sign-posting for those of you who want to take this subject further.

Some people say that sexual health (SH) is as integral to a person’s life and relationships as is mental health (MH). We know only too well, however, how mental illness, sexual violence and abuse, are often side-lined, not least because of prejudice, stigma, misunderstanding and fear.

These e-learning resources will help you identify ways in which sexual health matters for the people you work with, as well as assist you to overturn some of the negatives, as you strive to improve their holistic health and well-being.

Course modules

To study this course you must register or login

• Module 1: Sexual health matters – for mental health Open

  

  This module explores sexual health and sexuality, sexual risk, sexual violence, abuse and trauma and making a difference in your practice.

  On completion of this learning module you will be able to:

  • describe the role of sexual health, as an important aspect of being human, with particular reference to people with mental health problems, acknowledging histories of sexual violence and abuse
    
  • identify a number of different definitions of sexual health, in an attempt to design your own for your particular field of practice
    
  • describe ways of assessing a client's holistic sexual health needs, including prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care
    
  • describe how sexual ill-health may affect people with mental illness and vice versa
    
  • identify reasons why promoting / improving the client's sexual health as part of their mental health care and wellbeing is so important.

  To study this course you must register or login

• Module 2: Managing reproductive health Open

  

  This module looks at areas of healthy reproductive health including fertility and pregnancy, sexual anatomy, menopause and effective assessment.

  On completion of this learning module you will be able to:

  • describe normal variation in external genitalia and reproductive function
    
  • describe how and why reproductive health may be affected by mental illness
    
  • have a deeper understanding of a basic assessment of a client's reproductive health needs
    
  • know how to manage a client's reproductive health as part of their ongoing psychiatric care
    
  • know how to support health screening (access and results)
    
  • know when to refer for specialist assessment.

  To study this course you must register or login

• Module 3: Supporting people who experience abuse Open

  

  This module explores what abuse is and why it is often hard to talk about and covers strategies to overcome this.

  On completion of this learning module you will be able to:

  • describe different categories and types of abuse
  • recognise barriers to disclosure
  • promote safe conversations about violence
  • ask questions about past and current abuse
  • choose appropriate responses to disclosures of abuse
  • find information for clients experiencing the effects of abuse
  • signpost agencies that can help.

  To study this course you must register or login

• Module 4: Safer relationships and safer sex Open

  

  This module explores sexual health and safety planning, identifying people at risk and one to one care.

  On completion of this learning module you will be able to:

  • understand key mental health implications of sex / relationships / safety / risk / abuse and how they relate to each other
  • appreciate the need to be proactive with clients and to help them improve, sustain and manage safety and well-being, even when they are ill
    
  • explore some strengths and weaknesses, barriers and difficulties associated with diversity
    
  • clarify some wider matters relevant to one to one care that are often side-lined or hidden
    
  • develop clear pathways for enhancing safer relationships and safer sex.

  To study this course you must register or login

• Module 5: Fertility and pregnancy planning Open

  

  This module looks at fertility and conception, mental health and pregnancy and managing unwanted pregnancy.

  On completion of this learning module you will be able to:

  • appreciate the difficulties for women with mental illness in planning and controlling their fertility
  • understand the link between maternal mental illness and risk of poor pregnancy outcomes
    
  • understand the links between childbirth and mental illness for mothers and fathers
    
  • understand the links between abusive experiences and fertility care in the context of mental illness
    
  • design a care plan for any woman in her reproductive years under your care
    
  • design a care plan for any man under your care who has childcare responsibilities or who wishes to start a family.

  To study this course you must register or login

• Module 6: Physical health, mental health and sexuality Open

  

  This module looks at assessment and how abuse can affect physical health.

  On completion of this learning module you will be able to:

  • understand the link between mental and physical health
    
  • undertake a basic assessment of risks of poor physical health
    
  • consider how experiences of abuse can affect the interface between mental, physical and sexual health
    
  • learn simple and effective ways of making a difference by supporting lifestyle change in your client group. 

  To study this course you must register or login

• Module 7: Genitourinary health Open

  

  This module explores common complaints, medically unexplained GU problems and helping the people you work with stay healthy.

  On completion of this learning module you will be able to:

  • the relationship between genitourinary (GU) health and mental health
    
  • why this aspect of care is relevant to you and your client group
    
  • how mental illness can manifest itself as genitourinary symptoms
    
  • how you can incorporate GU health into care planning
    
  • how can you make links with key disciplines to improve this aspect of your clients' care.

  To study this course you must register or login

• Module 8: Unprotected and risky sex Open

  

  This module looks at the diversity of sexual practices, safe and unsafe sex and sex and the law.

  On completion of this learning module you will be able to:

  • understand the implications of 'normalising' words and assumptions
    
  • be able to explain notions of safe, safer and unsafe sex, including the meaning of risk and safety
    
  • know how to promote awareness of diversity and pleasure in sexual practice
    
  • understand important matters of sex and the law
    
  • know effective ways to promote condom use.

  To study this course you must register or login

 

Course details

• Who they are suitable for Open

  Mental health practitioners (primarily MH nursing staff, but also to include other professional disciplines)

  They will also be of relevance for:

  • other professionals working with people with mental health problems including doctors, social workers, practitioners providing psychological interventions e.g. psychologists, IAPT & counsellors
  • voluntary sector workers
  • commissioners and managers
  • people who use services

• Terms of useOpen

  All material in these resources, including text, graphics, photographs, video and audio is copyright of the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE), unless otherwise stated. Use of these resources, and import of the resources into Learning Management Systems for educational purposes is freely permitted, but commercial use of any of SCIE’s learning resources is not authorised unless permission is first obtained in writing.

  Please note these courses are provided free of charge on an ‘as seen’ basis. Although SCIE’s courses have been used over many years with almost no reported problems, SCIE cannot provide technical support for their implementation or to investigate or fix any reported technical problems, nor does it warrant that they are fully compliant with all or any technical platform.

  Any known issue with an individual course is noted on the opening page of that course.

  This course was developed using a technology called Adobe Flash, which is not compatible with any Apple/Android platform, and may not work on any mobile device.

• Learning Management System compatibleOpen

  This course is fully SCORM compliant. That means they can be loaded into a Learning Management System (LMS) or Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), such as WebCT, Blackboard or Moodle, and accessed locally.

  Please note that this course was not designed to export any scores or track progress throughout the resource. Therefore, this course can be freely accessed by users, but there will be no tracking or grading functionality.

  To obtain the SCORM-compliant version of this course, please contact us.