Mental Health First Aid

The Canadian Mental Health Association–Sudbury/Manitoulin offers Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), a two-day course developed by the Mental Health Commission of Canada.

What is Mental Health First Aid?

Mental Health First Aid is a training course designed to give members of the public the skills to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. The evidence behind the program demonstrates that it builds mental health literacy, decreases stigmatizing attitudes, and helps individuals identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illness.

Canadian statistics show that one in five Canadians will experience a mental health problem this year. MHFA is an interactive workshop that teaches participants to recognize the signs that a person may be developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis and how to provide initial help and guide the person to appropriate professional resources.

The course addresses four of the most common and most stigmatized mental health disorders and includes signs/symptoms, risk factors, and crisis first aid for specific situations:

• Substance-Related Disorders
  • Crisis First Aid for Overdose
• Mood-Related Disorders
  • Crisis First Aid for Suicidal Behaviour
• Anxiety and Trauma-related Disorders
  • Crisis First Aid for Panic Attack
  • Crisis First Aid for Acute Stress Reaction
• Psychotic Disorders
  • Crisis First Aid for Psychotic Episode

*MHFA does not teach participants to become therapists or counsellors. Rather, it provides the skills, knowledge, and attitudes that allow someone to offer effective first aid intervention.

*MHFA is open to anyone 16 years old and up, no prior experience or training required.

MHFA sessions are being offered in-person and virtually. 

Closed MHFA sessions are available to groups upon request.
Contact us at (705) 675-7252 ext 225 or email [email protected] to request a MHFA training for your organization or community group.

For information on upcoming Mental Health First Aid training sessions, please see our Events Calendar.