If you are in distress, you can call or text 988 at any time. If it is an emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to your local emergency department.

Mental Health First Aid Standard

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 Objective

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 toward individuals living with mental health or substance use problems. It prevents people from seeking help and providing appropriate support to people around them.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is offered to someone with an emerging mental health or substance use problem or in crisis, until appropriate treatment is found or the situation resolves. An evidence-based course, MHFA Standard has been proven to give participants:

  • the tools to recognize signs of decline in mental well-being.
  • the ability to talk about their mental health.
  • the knowledge to discuss professional and other supports that could help with recovery or improved mental well-being.
  • the confidence to reach out to these supports.
  • the tools to assist during a mental health or substance use crisis, and.
  • the knowledge to use MHFA actions to maintain one’s own mental wellness.

Topics

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 live classroom modules (Modules 2 and 3). Course participants will complete Module 1 before participating in Modules 2 and 3.

Upon registration, participants will receive a Participant Reference Guide which outlines MHFA actions for mental health and substance use problems and crises.

Module 1: Self-directed module that introduces participants to the concepts of the course and Mental Health First Aid actions.

Module 2: Live classroom module that discusses tools on how to apply MHFA actions to situations of declining mental well-being and guidelines for MHFA conversations with diverse populations.

Module 3: Live classroom module that gives participants the opportunity to practice applying MHFA actions to crisis situations and discusses the importance of self-care.

Course layout

This course is offered in virtual and in-person delivery methods.

Crisis first aid and interventions for:

  • suicidal behaviour
  • panic attacks
  • overdose
  • acute stress reaction and,
  • psychotic episodes

Course model

  • Assess the risk of suicide and/or harm.
  • Listen non-judgmentally.
  • Give reassurance.
  • Encourage professional and other support.
  • Self-Care.

“The well-being of our coworkers, our communities, our families, and ourselves has never been more important. The Mental Health First Aid training has taught us how to be more confident when supporting those around us.”- CEO & Chief Sustainability Officer, IKEA Canada

With MHFA, you can learn to support the needs of specific groups. Check it out!

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Mental Health First Aid Case Studies

13 February 2024
“The credibility that the Mental Health Commission brings to Opening Minds programs was a key factor in our decision to implement The Working Mind for managers and MHFA.”
29 January 2024
CGI began to prioritize mental health in 2015, primarily due to the growing recognition of the impact that mental health issues were having on its consultants and professionals, which ultimately resulted in increased healthcare costs.
23 December 2022
In Saskatchewan, Kindergarten to Grade 12 (K-12) education is a shared responsibility between the Ministry of Education, under the authority of the Minister of Education, and locally elected boards of education. There are 27 school divisions in Saskatchewan, including public school divisions, separate school divisions, and the francophone school division.
13 May 2022
Founded in 1983 in Canada, nabs is a unique charity specifically designed to support the health and well-being of all individuals in the media, marketing, and communications industry in Canada.

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