Mental Health First Aid is the help provided to a person developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. Just like physical first aid is provided until medical treatment can be obtained, Mental Health First Aid is given until appropriate support is found or until the crisis is resolved.
We run public sessions of Mental Health First Aid, or you can contact us about bringing Mental Health First Aid to your community or workplace.
Why choose to take Mental Health First Aid through Canadian Mental Health Association Vancouver-Fraser?
Our Master Mental Health First Aid Trainers bring you the top quality training to you in a comfortable and safe training space.
How Mental Health First Aid Helps
- Preserves life where a person may be a danger to themselves or others.
- Provides help to prevent the mental health problem from developing into a more serious state.
- Promotes the recovery of good mental health.
- Provides comfort to a person experiencing a mental health problem.
Upcoming Courses
February 12 & 13, 2019 – Youth in Vancouver Register
March 7 & 8, 2019 – Basic in New Westminster Register
March 27 & 28 2019 – Senior in Vancouver Register
April 11 & 12, 2019 – Basic in Vancouver Register
May 27 & 28, 2019 – Youth in New Westminster Register
June 11 & 12, 2019 – Basic in Vancouver Register
June 26 & 27 2019 – Senior in New Westminster Register
July 9 & 10, 2019 – Basic in Vancouver Register
August 13 & 14, 2019 – Basic in Vancouver Register
MHFA Basic
MHFA Basic is intended for adults interacting with adults (18 years and older). This courses 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.
MHFA Adults Who Interact with Youth
MHFA Adults who Interact with Youth is intended for an adult audience whose primary focus is youth (aged 14-25). In addition to the four most common disorders discussed in MHFA BASIC, this course includes instruction about eating disorders and deliberate self-injury. Participants who take this course are well prepared to interact confidently about mental health with the young people in their lives, including at schools, extra-curricular activities, social services, family, friends, and communities.
NEW! MHFA Seniors
Canada has an aging population. As of July 1, 2015, there were more people aged 65 years and older in Canada than children under the age of 15 years. The likelihood of experiencing a mental health problem or illness in a given year increases as of age 69 and currently, men aged 80 and older have the highest suicide rates in Canada.
MHFA Seniors is an adaptation of the MHFA Basic course that is intended to increase the capacity of seniors, families (informal caregivers), friends, staff in care settings and communities to promote mental health in seniors, prevent mental illness and suicide wherever possible in seniors and intervene early when problems first emerge.
The course content and resource materials are based on best available evidence and practice guidelines and were developed in consultation with Canadian experts in the field of geriatric psychiatry. The curriculum was developed for the Mental Health Commission of Canada at Trillium Health Partners, a healthcare organizations which priorities seniors’ health and wellness.
To learn more about bringing Mental Health First Aid training to your community or workplace, please contact Tara Sudbury at 236-317-3349 or courses.vf@cmha.bc.ca.