Special Topics in Adolescent Mental Health

Prerequisite: Must be an undergraduate Human Biology or Psychology major or minor. Includes the study of aspects of common mental health conditions seen in adolescent populations, such as prevalence, developmental course, gender differences, theoretical explanations, and therapeutic interventions. Topics will include mood/anxiety disorders, eating disorders, learning disabilities and ADHD, psychosis, sexual risk behaviors, developmental disorders, and addictive behaviors. Goals of this course include thinking critically about the unique mental health needs of diverse adolescent populations in their cultural contexts, devising ways to improve the way our society meets those needs, and strengthening writing and communication skills applicable to this area of inquiry.