Why Take the Mental Health First Aid or Trauma Informed Care Course?

  Mental Health First Aid is an evidence-based certificate course from the Mental Health Commission of Canada that never expires. The course helps build mental health literacy, decreases stigmatizing attitudes, improves workplace health and well-being, and helps individuals identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illness. It's a growing requirement in many professional fields, particularly health and social sciences. 

The MHFA course (both on-line and in person) is delivered in three modules and finished in just one day!

Module 1: Self-Directed

• Introduction to the course
• Introduction to MHFA actions

Module 2: Virtual or In-Person Classroom 

• Practice applying MHFA actions to situations of declining mental well-being

Module 3 Virtual or In-Person Classroom

• Practice using MHFA actions in crisis situations

Method of Instruction

This 8-hour course opens with a self-directed module (Module 1: 2 hours) that focuses on the information and strategies that participants will discuss and practice throughout the virtual classroom modules [Modules 2 & 3). 

Trauma Informed Care (TIC)

TIC is a certified course by the Community Resilience Initiative. This introductory course to TIC is delivered in 6 hours. The course helps participants learn how to respond to trauma, by taking theory to practice through four components: knowledge, insight, strategies and structures. 

The course includes three powerful topics: 

1. Neuroscience, Epigenetics, ACEs and Resilience (N.E.A.R.)

2. Beneath Behavior: Provides insight into what drives behavior

3 Signature strategies to respond to trauma (R.O.L.E.S.)

 
“No matter where you grew up, what level of education you earned, or what profession you are in, marriage status, or culture you belong to, Mental Health First Aid is going to improve society in so many ways. It will break down barriers.”  

"The Trauma Informed Care course is a must. We have all experienced trauma in our lives. All people need to understand how it affects our mental health, our families, our work, and everything we do. I loved the course. I get it."

Workspace Solutions

Members of our team are passionate mental health specialists and trauma-informed practitioners.  We are skilled at bringing mental health information to life through sharing of knowledge, expertise, experience, and contact-based education.  We offer 1-4 hour workshops and seminars aimed at increasing awareness and reducing stigma around mental health and building trauma-informed effective teams. We help people learn how to increase connection, resilience, and coping skills, by building an understanding of mental health and trauma-informed approaches to care.

Some of our workshop topics include:

1. Mental Wellness - designed for all, and we also offer a course tailored to health care workers, too. As a result of the pandemic, social isolation and fear can cause a great deal of stress and anxiety. Learn strategies and techniques to help you build resilience and thrive during the "PermaCrisis".  

2. What is Mental Health and how does Mental Health affect you and your team?

3. What is Psychological Safety? What does it mean for you, your school environment or your workplace? 

4. Empathy Strain & Burnout - Steps you can take to support and protect you and your team.

5. Trauma, Stress & Adversity - How do you support those following trauma or a tough situation? How do you acquire resilience? What role do ACES play?

6.  Workplace Bullying & Harassment  - Steps you can take to support and protect yourself and your team.

7. Supporting youth and young adults in times of need and crisis - learn the signs and symptoms, words to use, and resources to know.

8. Feeling Good - Know how what you do, your personal interactions, rest patterns, and the food you eat affects your mental health. Learn about self-compassion and common humanity.

For any of our services, please contact debra@limestonecitymentalhealth.ca We look forward to supporting you and your team to be healthy, effective, productive, and happy.

If you want to learn more about workplace solutions, course dates, or wish to schedule a course for your own group, we welcome your inquiry. 

Participants who take MHFA or TIC training are well prepared to interact confidently about mental health and how trauma impacts mental health with their family, friends, communities, and colleagues. This includes motivating others to talk and open up so they can get help. 

Peer-reviewed published studies show that individuals trained in Mental Health First Aid or Trauma-Informed Care show success in the following areas:

 Stigma 

There is stigma associated with mental health. Trauma can lead to poor mental health. Evidence shows that taking one or both of these courses reduces social distance between the participant and someone experiencing a mental health challenge.

 Awareness 

One in three Canadians will experience mental illness during their lifetime. Many have experienced trauma in their lifetime. Evidence shows that course participants increase their awareness of signs and symptoms of the most common mental health challenges, and how trauma impacts our overall level of mental health wellbeing.

 Confidence 

The most difficult part of intervening is knowing what to say. Evidence shows that course participants demonstrate increased confidence in engaging someone experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis. Participants can identify professional and self-help resources for individuals with a mental health challenge or living with trauma, and show increased mental wellness themselves.

 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.   
  
Who Should Take a Mental Health First Aid or TIC Course?

Mental Health First Aid is intended for everyone over the age of 15 years for the Youth course, and 18 years for the Standard course.  

The Trauma Informed Care course is intended for anyone over the age of 18. 

These courses have been offered in every sector and region of the country, encompassing friends and families of individuals with a mental illness or addiction, workplaces, primary care, secondary and post-secondary educational institutions, government, construction, youth and community development programs, first responders, human resource professionals, managers, and many others.