Mental Health First Aid – Standard (Face-to-Face)

Course Info

The Mental Health Commission of Canada reports that one in every five Canadians experiences a mental health problem within a given year. While we often know a lot about physical illness, there tends to be less knowledge about mental health or substance use problems. This lack of understanding leads to fear and negative attitudes towards individuals living with these problems. It prevents people from seeking help for themselves and from providing appropriate support to people around them.

Course Objectives
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is the support provided to a person who may be experiencing a decline in their mental well-being or a mental health crisis. Course participants will learn how to:
• Recognize signs that a person may be experiencing a decline in their mental well-being or a mental health crisis
• Have conversations that encourage a person to:-
– Talk about declines in their mental well-being-
– Discuss professional and other supports that could help with recovery to improved mental well-being-
– Reach out to these support
• Assist in a mental health or substance use crisis
• Use MHFA actions to maintain one’s own mental well-being

Topics

Module 1: Self-Directed
• Introduction to the course
• Introduction to MHFA actions

Module 2: Face-to-Face Classroom
• Practice applying MHFA actions to situations of declining mental well-being
• Guidelines for communicating non-judgmentally and with respect

Module 3: Face-to-Face Classroom
• MHFA actions for mental health or substance use crisis situations
• Self-care for the first aider

Method of Instruction
This 9-hour course opens with a self-directed module (Module 1) that focuses on the information and strategies that participants will discuss and practice throughout the face-to-face classroom modules (Modules 2 and 3). Course participants are required to complete Module 1 before participating in Module 2 and 3.
Upon registration, participants will receive the “MHFA Participant Reference Guide” that outlines MHFA actions for developing mental health and substance use problems, and mental health and substance use crises.

Cancellation Policy

Participants should arrive 15 minutes early to fill out the required paperwork. Students arriving more than 10 minutes late for the course will not be able to join the class. A minimum of 5 business days advance notice is required for change or cancellation. No-shows will not be eligible for refund.