Mental Health First Aid Canada Training

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is the help provided to a person developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. Just as physical first aid is administered to an injured person before medical treatment can be obtained, MHFA is given until appropriate treatment is found or until the crisis is resolved.

The MHFA Canada program aims to improve mental health literacy, and provide the skills and knowledge to help people better manage potential or developing mental health problems in themselves, a family member, a friend or a colleague.
The program doesn’t teach people how to be therapists. It does teach people how to:

• Recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health problems.
• Provide initial help.
• Guide a person towards appropriate professional help.

MHFA aims to:

• Preserve life where a person may be a danger to themselves or others.
• Provide help to prevent the mental health problem from developing into a more serious state.
• Promote the recovery of good mental health.
• Provide comfort to a person experiencing a mental health problem.

Mental Health First Aid Basic 
The course discusses the following mental disorders:

• Substance related disorders
• Mood related disorders
• Anxiety and trauma related disorders
• Psychotic disorders

Crisis first aid skills for the following situations are learned:

• Substance overdose
• Suicidal behaviour
• Panic attack
• Acute stress reaction
• Psychotic episode

Course outline

Session One: Mental Health and Mental Health Problems

• What is Mental Health First Aid?
• Common mental health problems
• Five basic actions of mental health first aid
• Stigma and discrimination?
• What is a substance-related disorder?
• Signs and symptoms
• Risk factors
• MHFA for substance-related problems
• Crisis first aid for overdose
• Treatment and resources

Session Two: Mood Disorders

• What is a mood disorder?
• Types of mood disorders
• Signs and symptoms
• Risk factors
• Substance use and mood disorders
• Suicide in Canada
• MHFA for mood problems
• Crisis first aid for suicidal behaviour
• Treatment and resources

Session Three: Anxiety and Trauma Related Disorders

• What are anxiety and trauma related disorders?
• Types of anxiety and trauma related disorders
• Signs and symptoms
• Risk factors
• Substance use and anxiety disorders
• MHFA for anxiety and trauma related problems
• Crisis first aid for panic attacks
• Crisis first aid for acute stress reactions
• Treatment and resources

Session Four: Psychotic Disorders

• What is a psychotic disorder?
• Types of psychotic disorders
• Signs and symptoms
• Risk factors
• Substance use and psychotic disorders
• MHFA for anxiety problems
• Crisis first aid for psychotic episodes

For more information, please call 905.641.2111