Course Overview

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Certification course provides the knowledge, skills, and attitudes for participants to recognize changes in mental health, respond supportively, and apply practical actions for declining mental health and crisis situations. It helps participants build confidence, reduce stigma, and enhance their own mental health.

Objectives

MHFA Certification helps participants:

Increase awareness of mental health

Distinguish between mental health, mental illness, and mental health conditions.
Recognize indicators of mental health across the continuum (optimal, declining, poor).
Understand key information about mental health disorders in Canada. o Identify factors influencing mental health positively and negatively.
Explain the Two Continua Model of mental health.

Improve confidence to provide help

- Apply the ALGES framework to scenarios about declining mental health and crisis situations.
- Identify barriers to providing mental health first aid and how to overcome them.
- Ask effective questions to initiate supportive conversations.
- Demonstrate empathy and effective listening skills in supportive interactions.
- Communicate non-judgmentally using verbal and non-verbal skills.
- Provide reassurance and appropriate information in supportive conversations.
- Develop a list of professional, personal, and community resources and supports.
- Explain recovery-oriented approaches to providing support.

Decrease mental health-related stigma

- Explain mental health stigma, including self-stigma, public stigma, and structural stigma.
- Recognize stigmatizing language and practice respectful alternatives.
- Reflect on personal attitudes and biases that contribute to stigma.
- Understand risks and limitations associated with diagnostic labeling.
- Identify practical strategies to challenge and reduce stigma.

Enhance mental health

- Identify personal self-care strategies using the Three Pillars of Self Care: reflective, purposeful, and boundaries.
- Recognize when self-care is needed as a Mental Health First Aider and how to integrate it into daily life.
- Commit to intentional self-care actions to maintain personal wellbeing as a Mental Health First Aider.

Participant Materials

Handout

The participant handout assists the participants throughout the course. Received at the beginning, the handout is an integral part of the learning experience and is referred to throughout the course. The handout includes:

- Definitions of key terms and concepts
- Visual description of key information
- Learning scenarios and discussion questions
- Space to take notes during individual reflections and group discussions

Resource Hub

Opening Minds maintains an online resource hub with a comprehensive list of resources and support services for mental health and well-being. Participants will have access to the Resource Hub upon completion of the course.

Length

12 hours

Target Audience

Health Professionals, Educators, Family Members, Social Workers, Community Organizations and Support Personnel

Mental Health First Aid: Certification