Mental Health First Aid

What is Mental Health First Aid Canada?

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is the help provided to a person developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. Just as physical first aid is administered to an injured person before medical treatment can be obtained, MHFA is given until appropriate treatment is found or until the crisis is resolved.

The MHFA Canada program aims to improve mental health literacy, and provide the skills and knowledge to help people better manage potential or developing mental health problems in themselves, a family member, a friend or a colleague.

Who Takes MHFA?

Everyone. Anyone can benefit from MHFA, and more than 300,000 Canadians have been trained already.

Delivered in 35 nations worldwide and with over 8 million people trained, MHFA is a global movement.

From psychological health and safety in the workplace to schools and community groups to people in Northern Canada, MHFA has had a positive and long-lasting impact on Canadians from coast to coast to coast.

MHFA is well-suited to all workplaces seeking to reduce incidences of mental health problems and issues.

Does MHFA work?

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.

Course Options

Mental Health First Aid Certification

An innovative and leading-edge program in the sector, Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) now offers official certification.

This in-depth course, upon completion and assessment, provides participants:

• A nationally recognized MHFA Certification that is valid for 3 years.
• Increase Mental Health Awareness
• Understand stigma, diagnostic labelling, and barriers to helping
• Learn effective communication techniques

MHFA Community-Based

Culturally grounded and co-developed with the communities they serve. They are delivered with local knowledge and community support to ensure safe, relevant, and trusted learning experiences. These programs are designed to reflect the lived realities, values, and ways of knowing of the local communities, including:

• MHFA First Nations
• MHFA Inuit
• MHFA Northern Peoples

To find a course, book a training, and to read the evidence reviews, please visit https://openingminds.org/training/mhfa/