What is Mental Health First Aid?
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an evidence-based accredited, certification course that teaches people how to recognize and respond to signs of mental health challenges in others. It's like CPR for mental health, equipping individuals with the skills to provide initial help and support until professional help can be accessed.
What are the benefits of Mental Health First Aid?
Mental Health First Aid offers numerous benefits for both individuals and communities:
Increased mental health literacy
When people are better equipped to identify signs of distress in themselves and others, they can seek appropriate support, reducing the negative impact of mental health conditions. MHFA equips individuals with the knowledge to recognize signs and symptoms of mental health conditions, reducing stigma and promoting understanding.
Increased mental health literacy helps people to recognize, understand, and respond to mental health challenges. This knowledge helps to reduce stigma, promote open conversations, and encourage early intervention.
Enhanced confidence to help
People may hesitate to support someone experiencing mental health challenges due to a lack of knowledge, fear of saying the wrong thing, personal limitations, and societal pressures. Negative stereotypes and misconceptions about mental illness can create discomfort and uncertainty, leading to avoidance. By learning practical skills, individuals gain the confidence to approach someone experiencing mental health difficulties with empathy and support.
Improved early intervention
MHFA reduces stigma by encouraging open conversations about mental health, making it easier to identify and address mental health challenges early on. Early intervention can significantly improve outcomes for individuals experiencing mental health challenges. MHFA empowers people to recognize early signs of distress, fostering timely connections to appropriate support services.
Strengthened communities
A mentally healthy society promotes greater productivity, resilience, and compassion. Mental Health First Aid creates a culture of care and support, empowering communities to assist one another during mental health crises.
Positive workplace impact
Mental Health First Aid training can create more supportive workplaces, leading to increased employee morale, productivity, and overall well-being. Some of the largest companies in Canada are adding MHFA to their workplace mental wellness initiatives such as Loblaws, Hydro One, Ikea, Staples and more.
Who made Mental Health First Aid?
Mental Health First Aid was developed by a research team led by Betty Kitchener and Anthony Jorm in Australia in 2001. Mental Health First Aid International is a global non-profit organization that develops, delivers, and evaluates accredited mental health training programs. They work with organizations worldwide to adapt and deliver their programs to meet the specific needs of different cultures and communities.
While MHFA is a global program, each country has its own accrediting body responsible for overseeing the program's standards and delivery. The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) oversees Mental Health First Aid in Canada. They are responsible for developing, delivering, and evaluating the MHFA program across the country.
Are there different types of Mental Health First Aid?
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) comes in a range of niche courses designed to equip individuals with the skills to recognize, understand, and respond to mental health challenges. The Mental Health Commission of Canada accredits these courses. The most widely recognized course is Mental Health First Aid: Standard. While some MHFA courses are exclusively in-person, others offer a flexible hybrid approach, combining in-person and online learning modalities.
Online and in-person
Mental Health First Aid Standard: Adults Supporting Adults
Mental Health First Aid: Adults Supporting Youth
Mental Health First Aid: Adults Supporting Seniors
In-person only
Mental Health First Aid: Indigenous
Mental Health First Aid: Veterans
Mental Health First Aid: Police
When does the MHFA certificate expire?
Your MHFA certification does not have an expiration date in Canada. However, to ensure you possess the most up-to-date mental health first aid skills and knowledge, it's advisable to refresh your training every few years. The MHFA curriculum undergoes regular updates and revisions to align with the latest evidence-based practices in mental health recovery. By staying current, you can continue to provide effective support to individuals experiencing mental health challenges. To further elevate your mental health first aid capabilities, we suggest pursuing an additional MHFA certification. This will allow you to deepen your knowledge and skills, enabling you to provide even more effective support to those in need.
Do you need to be a mental health professional to take MHFA?
Although MHFA certification is often a prerequisite for employment in mental health and social services, the course is open to all individuals. It is designed to be readily comprehensible to the general public. It is important to remember that friends, family, and colleagues frequently serve as the initial responders to mental health decline.
What do you learn about in MHFA?
The virtual MHFA is a three-module program. The first module is self-guided, allowing you to learn at your own pace. The second and third modules are interactive, instructor-led sessions in a virtual classroom. This activity-based approach puts you at the center of your learning experience.
Module 1
What is MHFA and why is it needed?
What is the role of a MHFAider?
Key terms and concepts.
Stigma and mental well-being.
The range of changes that may indicate a decline in mental health.
Signs and symptoms of mental health decline.
Module 2
Discussing stigma and recovery.
Communicating without judgment.
Understanding depression and anxiety.
Guidelines for MHFA for cross-cultural competencies.
Applying ALGEES to scenarios - substance use problems, depression, and anxiety.
Module 3
Preparing for challenges and resistance
Understanding the causes of challenges and resistance
Difference between a crisis and an emergency
Safety planning for crisis and emergency
Self-stigma and self-care
