About Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)

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.

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.

MHFA is an international program active in over 20 countries. Research has shown that this evidence-based course offers significant positive impacts for participants and their workplaces, communities, and families, namely:

• Significantly greater recognition of the most common mental health problems
• Decreased social distance from people with mental health problems
• Increased confidence in providing help to others
• Improved mental health of the MHFA participant her/himself

*PLEASE NOTE: MHFA does NOT teach participants to be therapists or mental health professionals, just as regular first aid does not teach people to be paramedics or doctors.

Course Information:

This 9-hour course begins with an online self-directed module (Module 1) that focuses on the information and strategies participants will discuss and practice throughout Modules 2 and 3. Module 1 takes approximately 1.5 hours to complete, is done independently and must be completed prior to the live in classroom training date. You are given approximately 2 weeks to complete Module 1. Modules 2 and 3 will be covered in the classroom in one full training day.

Required Resources:

Upon registration, participants will receive online access to a Participant Reference Guide which outlines MHFA actions for mental health and substance use problems and crises. You have the option to order a hard copy but this is not required.

Please bring writing materials, refreshments/lunch, and comfort items as needed. Morning, Lunch, and Afternoon breaks will be incorporated into the in classroom training day.

Prerequisites:

None! Anyone can benefit from MHFA.

Please Note:

Once your registration is confirmed, instructions are sent with how to access Module 1 via the email listed on your registration form. Participants must complete online Module 1 and the full classroom training day (Modules 2 and 3) in order to receive certification.

If you have previously submitted a registration and are requesting to cancel or move your previous registration to a new date please email lutesh@sah.on.ca to process this request. Do not submit a second registration.