Workshop: Mental Health First Aid Basic

Length: 2 Days

Description: MHFA Basic is intended for adults interacting with adults (18 years and older). This course focuses on the four most common mental health disorders including substance related, mood related, anxiety and trauma related, and psychotic disorders. Participants who take this course are well prepared to interact confidently about mental health with their family, friends, communities, and workplaces.

Key Outcomes:

International evaluations and feedback have found the following outcomes for participants undertaking an MHFA course:

Increased awareness of signs and symptoms of the most common mental health problems
Decreased stigma related to mental health
Increased confidence interacting with individuals experiencing a mental health problem or crisis
Increased help actually provided to individuals in crisis or experiencing a mental health problem
Course Information:

Topic 1 - Mental Health & Stigma

What is Mental Health First Aid?
Common mental health problems
Five basic actions of mental health first aid
Stigma and discrimination
Topic 2 - Substance-Related Disorders

What is a substance-related disorder?
Signs and symptoms
Risk factors
MHFA for substance-related problems
Crisis first aid for overdose
Treatment and resources

Topic 3 - Mood-Related Disorders

What is a mood-related disorder?
Types of mood-related disorders
Signs and symptoms
Risk factors
Substance use and mood disorders
Suicide in Canada
MHFA for mood-related problems
Crisis first aid for suicidal behaviour
Treatment and resources
Topic 4 - 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 related disorders
MHFA for anxiety and trauma related problems
Crisis first aid for panic attacks
Crisis first aid for acute stress reactions
Treatment and resources
Topic 5 - 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
Facilitator: Lorie Mclean

Following successful completion of the two-day course a certificate will follow in the mail.

For more information email [email protected].