18149
16-Feb-16
1 of 9
SOCIAL SERVICE WORK IN SUICIDE
INTERVENTION
Describe selected aspects of mental
health and mental health services for
suicide intervention
level:
4
credit:
6
planned review date:
February 2003
sub-field:
Social Services
purpose:
People credited with this unit standard are able to: describe
selected aspects of mental health in relation to suicide
intervention; describe the roles and functions of selected
workers from mental health occupational groups and
professional disciplines in the provision of mental health
services for suicide intervention; and describe selected
mental health services in the local community related to
suicide intervention.
entry information:
Open.
accreditation option:
Evaluation of documentation and visit by NZQA and industry.
moderation option:
A centrally established and directed national moderation
system has been set up by Community Support Services
ITO Limited (Careerforce).
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
18149
16-Feb-16
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SOCIAL SERVICE WORK IN SUICIDE
INTERVENTION
Describe selected aspects of mental
health and mental health services for
suicide intervention
special notes:
1
People awarded credit in this unit standard are able to
demonstrate knowledge of te tino rangatiratanga and
kāwanatanga of the Treaty of Waitangi, and are able to
demonstrate knowledge of how to apply the articles of
the Treaty of Waitangi to social services. They are able
to apply this knowledge to the context of assessment
for this unit standard (for further clarification, please
refer to Unit 7927, Demonstrate knowledge of the
application of the Treaty of Waitangi in the social
services).
2
Cultural concepts of mental health for Māori may be
based upon but are not limited to: Te Whare Tapa
Whā, Te Wheke, Nga Poutama.
Pacific Nation
concepts may be defined according to the concepts of
one Pacific Nation. Other tauiwi concepts should be
expressed as holistic concepts of health, which may
include but are not limited to the Ottawa Charter for
Health Promotion 1986, and the following definition of
health and wellness - “Health and wellness are states
of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and
not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” World
Health Organisation (WHO) 1946.
3
Social service worker is used as a term to refer to the
person seeking award of credit in this unit standard.
Social service worker may include but is not limited to:
community worker, counsellor, kaiāwhina, social
worker, kaitautoko, youth worker, and others who
deliver social services, whether paid or unpaid.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
18149
16-Feb-16
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SOCIAL SERVICE WORK IN SUICIDE
INTERVENTION
Describe selected aspects of mental
health and mental health services for
suicide intervention
4
Enterprise standards include but are not limited to:
service provider strategic plans, kaupapa, governing
legislation, staff manuals, service provider protocols.
5
Resources related to mental health with specific
relevance to suicide intervention include but are not
limited to:
a
American Psychiatric Association Task Force on
DSM-IV.
c1994.
Diagnostic and statistical
manual of mental disorders - DSM-IV.
Washington,
DC:
American
Psychiatric
Association. (People awarded credit in this unit
standard demonstrate a beginning awareness of
the role of DSM-IV in the classification of mental
disorders.)
b
Durie, Mason. 1998 2nd Ed. Whaiora - Māori
Health Development. Auckland: Oxford University
Press.
c
McDowell, Heather; Ziginskas, Danute; eds.
1994. Feeling stink - A resource on young
people's mental health issues for those who work
with them. Wellington: Ministry of Health.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
18149
16-Feb-16
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SOCIAL SERVICE WORK IN SUICIDE
INTERVENTION
Describe selected aspects of mental
health and mental health services for
suicide intervention
6
Resources related to suicide intervention include but
are not limited to:
a
Coggan, Carolyn; Dickinson, Pauline; Rimm,
Michael; Cherrington, Jane. 1999. A Practical
Guide to Coping With Suicide. Auckland: Mental
Health Foundation.
b
Ellis, Pete M.; Collings, Sunny C. D.; Eds.
October 1997. Mental Health in New Zealand
from a Public Health Perspective. Wellington:
Public Health Group, Ministry of Health.
c
Joseph, Paul (Ati Hau). 1997. Māori Youth
Suicide in Aotearoa: Selected Interviews with
Māori Elders.
Auckland: The University of
Auckland: Iri Masters Thesis Series Number 10.
d
Ministry of Health, Ministry of Youth Affairs, and
Te Puni Kōkiri - Ministry of Māori Development.
1999. In Our Hands: New Zealand Youth Suicide
Prevention Strategy - Kia Piki Te Ora o Te
Tamariki:
Strengthening
Youth
Wellbeing.
Wellington: Ministry of Health, Ministry of Youth
Affairs, and Te Puni Kōkiri.
e
Ministry of Health and National Health Committee.
1998. Young People at Risk of Suicide: A Guide
for Schools. Wellington: Ministry of Education.
f
Royal New Zealand College of General
Practitioners and Ministry of Youth Affairs. 1999.
Guidelines for Primary Care Providers: Detection
and Management of Young People at Risk of
Suicide. Wellington: Royal New Zealand College
of General Practitioners and Ministry of Youth
Affairs.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
18149
16-Feb-16
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SOCIAL SERVICE WORK IN SUICIDE
INTERVENTION
Describe selected aspects of mental
health and mental health services for
suicide intervention
g
h
Royal New Zealand College of General
Practitioners and Ministry of Youth Affairs. 1999.
A Quick Reference for Primary Care Providers:
Detection & Management of Young People at Risk
of Suicide.
Wellington: Royal New Zealand
College of General Practitioners and Ministry of
Youth Affairs.
Smith, Don; Beautrais, Annette. December 1999.
"Identifying young people at risk of suicide".
Social Work Now 14:23-34.
Please note that at the time of registration, there were
no specific resources recommended related to suicide
intervention with older persons.
Elements and Performance Criteria
element 1
Describe selected aspects of mental health in relation to suicide intervention.
performance criteria
1.1
Mental health is described according to cultural concepts.
Range:
cultural concepts of mental health - Māori, one Tauiwi culture.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
18149
16-Feb-16
6 of 9
SOCIAL SERVICE WORK IN SUICIDE
INTERVENTION
Describe selected aspects of mental
health and mental health services for
suicide intervention
1.2
Mental health is described in terms of a continuum which ranges from mental
well being, through 'something is not quite right', through to serious mental
illness.
Range:
1.3
Mental health is described in terms of a continuum which ranges from no need
for intervention through to that which requires professional assessment and
immediate intervention.
Range:
1.4
continuum - behaviour which is considered normal for a particular
person, behaviour which is considered normal for a particular
person but difficult for the person and/or others affected by the
person, behaviour which is considered abnormal for a particular
person but which does not cause serious concern, behaviour
which is considered abnormal for a particular person and which
causes serious concern;
evidence is required within one cultural concept of mental health.
continuum - behaviour that does not require intervention,
behaviour that leads to a need for advice or support for the person
or their family or whānau and/or other carers, behaviour that
causes serious concern and requires assessment by a mental
health professional.
Mental illness is described in terms of classifications of mental disorder.
Range:
classifications of mental disorder - mood disorders, anxiety
disorders, conduct/oppositional disorders, personality disorders,
substance abuse, and dual diagnosis;
dual diagnosis - co-existence of a mental disorder and at least
one other factor such as alcohol and/or drug misuse, or
intellectual disability.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
18149
16-Feb-16
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SOCIAL SERVICE WORK IN SUICIDE
INTERVENTION
Describe selected aspects of mental
health and mental health services for
suicide intervention
1.5
Interventions for mental illness are described in terms of types of treatment
options.
Range:
types of treatment options - cultural treatment options; community
care; hospitalisation; medication; counselling and psychotherapy;
evidence is required of four of the range.
element 2
Describe the roles and functions of selected workers from mental health occupational
groups in the provision of mental health services for suicide intervention.
Range:
workers from mental health occupational groups in the provision of mental
health services for suicide intervention may include but are not limited to chaplain, community support worker, counsellor, District Inspector, Duly
Authorised Officer, general practitioner, kaiāwhina, kaumātua, Māori Mental
Health Workers, mental health support worker, occupational therapist, pakeke,
patient advocate, psychologist, psychiatrist, psychotherapist, registered nurse,
social worker, specialist kaupapa Māori mental health workers, tohunga;
evidence is required of five kinds of mental health worker, one of which must be
Māori.
performance criteria
2.1
Mental health workers are described according to their occupational title and
role in the provision of mental health services.
2.2
Mental health workers are described according to their functions as referral
sources for advice, advocacy, or emergency action for suicide intervention.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
18149
16-Feb-16
8 of 9
SOCIAL SERVICE WORK IN SUICIDE
INTERVENTION
Describe selected aspects of mental
health and mental health services for
suicide intervention
element 3
Describe selected mental health services in the local community related to suicide
intervention.
Range:
services - counselling, culturally specific services, day programmes, emergency
services, legal services, private therapy services, residential care, specialist
kaupapa Māori mental health workers.
performance criteria
3.1
Mental health services in the local community are described according to the
nature of the services they provide.
Range:
3.2
evidence is required for four of the services identified in the range
for this, one of which must be a Māori service.
Mental health services in the local community are described according to their
eligibility criteria and referral protocols.
Range:
evidence is required for each of the services identified in the
range for this element.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
18149
16-Feb-16
9 of 9
SOCIAL SERVICE WORK IN SUICIDE
INTERVENTION
Describe selected aspects of mental
health and mental health services for
suicide intervention
Comments to:
Careerforce
PO Box 2637
Wellington 6140
Please Note:
Providers must be accredited by the Qualifications Authority
before they can offer programmes of education and training
assessed against unit standards.
Accredited providers assessing against unit standards must
engage with the moderation system that applies to those unit
standards. [Please refer to relevant Plan ref: 0222]
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016