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Education and Training
At CMHA – Sudbury/Manitoulin, our Training and Health Promotion programs offer a range of engaging workshops, presentations, and certified training opportunities designed for individuals, organizations, and workplaces seeking to deepen their understanding of mental health. These programs aim to increase awareness, build knowledge, and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and mental illness. Through interactive education, we promote a proactive approach to mental wellness, encouraging early recognition of mental health concerns, building resilience, and fostering supportive environments at work and in the community.
Whether you’re a business, community group, service provider, or simply someone interested in learning more, our team delivers practical, evidence-informed sessions that can be customized to meet your needs. Training is available both in-person and virtually throughout the Sudbury and Manitoulin regions.
Cancellation and Refund Policy
Certification Training
Mental Health First Aid
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an interactive training program that prepares individuals to assist someone who may be developing a mental health issue or experiencing a crisis. It builds mental health awareness, reduces stigma, and equips participants with the skills to provide initial support and connect individuals to professional help.
Mental Heath First Aid: Certification
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Certification is a two-day course for designated mental health first aid responders or sectors requiring credentials. It includes deeper content, scenario-based learning, and a formal assessment, leading to national certification. This course provides the knowledge, skills, and attitudes for participants to recognize changes in mental health, respond supportively, and apply practical actions for declining mental health and crisis situations. It helps participants build confidence, reduce stigma, and enhance their own mental health.
Length: 2 days
Cost: $350/registrant
Click here to register for this session
Mental Heath First Aid: Essentials
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Essentials is a one-day course ideal for broad training across large groups. It builds practical skills and awareness without formal assessment. This course provides the knowledge, skills, and attitudes for participants to recognize changes in mental health, respond supportively, and apply practical actions for declining mental health and crisis situations. It helps participants build confidence, reduce stigma, and enhance their own mental health.
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training ASIST
ASIST is a two-day interactive workshop in suicide first-aid. ASIST teaches participants to recognize when someone may be at risk of suicide and work with them to create a plan that will support their immediate safety. Although ASIST is widely used by healthcare provides, participants do not need any formal training to attend the workshop – ASIST can be learned and used by anyone.
Over the course of the two-day workshop, ASIST participants learn to:
- Recognize that caregivers and people are affected by personal and societal attitudes about suicide.
- Provide life-assisting guidance to a person thinking about suicide in a flexible manner.
- Identify what needs to be in a person thinking about suicide’s plan for safety.
- Demonstrate the skills required to provide suicide first aid to a person thinking about suicide.
- Appreciate the value of improving community resources including the way that they work together.
- recognize that suicide prevention is broader than suicide intervention and, includes life promotion and self care for people thinking about suicide and for caregivers.
Length: 2 days/7 hours per day
Cost: $290/registrant
Click here to register for this session
safeTALK-Suicide Alerttness For Everyone
LivingWorks safeTALK is a suicide alertness training that equips participants to recognize signs of suicidal thoughts and connect individuals to appropriate intervention resources. This half-day training is available to anyone 15 years of age and up who wants to help prevent suicide.
The Canadian Mental Health Association-Sudbury/Manitoulin offers suicide response training called safeTALK, developed by LivingWorks Canada.
safeTALK trains participants to:
- Identify persons with thoughts of suicide.
- Connect individuals-in-need to someone trained in suicide first aid.
Many people thinking about suicide show signs and are open to help—but these signs are often overlooked, misunderstood, or avoided. This can leave individuals feeling even more isolated and at greater risk. safeTALK prepares you to recognize these moments and respond with confidence, using the TALK steps(Tell, Ask, Listen, and KeepSafe), to engage with the person and connect them to the support they need.
safeTALK is for everyone who wants to help prevent suicide, and may include:
- Front line workers
- Volunteers
- Parents
- Youth
- Teachers
Please Note:
- safeTALK is open to anyone 15 years of age and older.
- This training is not recommended for individuals who have recently experienced a significant loss or trauma related to suicide, as the content may be emotionally distressing.
Length: 3.5 hours
Cost: $80/registrant
Educational Workshops
Mental Health / Stress Management
In this presentation, participants will learn simple, effective techniques to manage stress.
This presentation provides an overview of mental health, mental illness, and the associated stigma. A broad range of mental illnesses, symptoms and treatment options are covered. We dive into depression and anxiety. What is stress? We all experience it from time to time, but how do we properly identify, prevent, and positively support it? This workshop will teach you just that! Sit back and listen for some simple tips to reduce stress.
Length: 1.5 hours
Cost: $300
Mental Health Session for Skilled Trades Workers
The focus of this workshop series is for skilled trades employees to understand mental health and wellbeing with emphasis on stigma, depression, anxiety, and substance use.
Just as your life and circumstances continually change, so do your moods and thoughts, and your sense of well-being. It’s important to find balance in your life over time and in a range of situations. It’s natural to feel off balance at times: for example, sad, worried, scared, or suspicious. But these kinds of feelings may become a problem if they get in the way of your daily life over a long period. More than 1 in 2 people (52%) struggling with their mental health aren’t getting the help they need. The workshop sessions are 90 minutes and will provide tradespeople tools, resources, and supports to stay well.
What the Sessions Cover:
- Session 1: Understanding Depression and Anxiety
- Session 2: Mental Health and Addiction
This training is letting workers know it is okay to feel stressed, but the key is to deal with it effectively before it overwhelms you.
Length: 1.5 hours/workshop
Cost: $300
Agency Presentation
This presentation is an informative session on CMHA – S/M’s programs and services. Learn more about who we are, what we do, and how we service the community!
Curious about what the Canadian Mental Health Association – Sudbury/Manitoulin (CMHA -S/M) does? This free, 60-minute presentation is a great way to learn more about our organization, the services we provide, and how we support individuals and communities across the region.
Whether you’re a community partner, service provider, employer, or simply interested in mental health, this session offers a clear and informative overview of who we are and how we can help. We’ll walk you through our programs, ranging from mental health and addiction services to housing support, crisis response, wellness initiatives, and also explain how to access them.
This is a great opportunity to connect, ask questions, and better understand the resources available to you or those you support. Let’s work together to build a healthier, more informed community.
Length: 1 hour
Cost: Free
Mental Health -101
This presentation is a great starting point for anyone looking to better understand mental health, mental illness, and the stigma that often surrounds these topics.
We cover a wide range of mental health conditions, with a closer look at depression and anxiety—two of the most common challenges people face today. You’ll also learn about common symptoms, treatment options, and ways to support both yourself and others.
Mental health affects all of us, and it’s important to know the signs, understand what’s happening, and feel confident about where to turn for help. This session is designed to be informative, easy to follow, and helpful for people in all walks of life.
Who is this Guide For:
- People who are concerned about themselves
- Those who are concerned about their family and friends
- Those who encounter people with mental health problem through their work.
A simple, welcoming session to learn and ask questions.
Length: 1 hour
Cost: Free
Stress Management
In this workshop, we’ll break down what stress really means, how it affects your body and mind, and in simple, practical ways to manage it before it becomes overwhelming.
You’ll learn how to spot early signs of stress, explore everyday techniques to stay grounded, and discover how small changes can make a big difference in your overall well-being. Whether it’s work pressure, personal struggles, or just life in general. This session gives you real tools you can use right away! Sit back and listen for some simple tips to reduce stress.
Length: 1 hour
Cost: TBD
Social Media – Scrolling Through The Ups and Downs of its Impact on Mental Health
In this session, we’ll dive into both the positive and negative effects of social media on mental well-being.
From managing stress and anxiety to fostering connections, we’ll explore how social platforms can influence your mood, relationships, and self-esteem. We’ll also share practical tips and strategies to help you modify your social media habits and use technology in a way that supports a healthier, more balanced mindset. Whether you’re looking to reduce stress or simply create a more positive online experience, this workshop offers tools you can start using right away.
Length: 1 hour
Cost: TBD
Substance Use and Harm Reduction
In this workshop, we’ll talk openly about substance use, addiction, and mental health. We’ll break down the stigma that often surrounds these topics, making it easier for people to understand and talk about them.
You’ll learn about the impact substance use can have on your mental health and well-being, and how these challenges can affect your day-to-day life.
We’ll also share practical tips on harm reduction, ways to reduce the risks of substance use, and give you helpful resources to support better mental health. Whether you’re facing these issues yourself or want to help someone else, this workshop provides clear and simple advice to guide you toward healthier choices.
It’s a safe and supportive space where you can ask questions, gain new insights, and walk away with practical tools to help you or someone you care about.
Length: 1 hour
Cost: TBD
Stress, Anxiety and Loneliness
In this workshop, we’ll explore how these feelings develop, what they look like, and how they can affect your mental health over time.
You’ll learn to recognize the signs of stress, whether they show up in your body, your thoughts, or your emotions and understand how ongoing stress can lead to feeling isolated or disconnected from others. We’ll also talk about resilience and how building it can help you better manage life’s ups and downs. This session is full of practical tips, easy-to-understand information, and helpful tools you can use in everyday life to feel more connected and in control.
Length: 1 hour
Cost: TBD
Kick The Winter Blues
This workshop looks at why many of us feel more tired, down, or unmotivated in the colder months.
“Blue Monday” may be a myth, but feeling low during the winter is very real.
We’ll explore what’s going on in your body and mind during winter, talk about Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), and share simple, effective ways to boost your mood. Whether you’re feeling the winter blues or just want to understand them better, this session offers real tips to help you feel more like yourself again.
Length: 1 hour
Cost: TBD
Workshop Programs
Living Life to the Full
This 8-week course is designed to help people deal with everyday life challenges and learn self-management skill.
Your mental health matters. In eight enjoyable 90-minute sessions, once per week, this program helps people make a difference to their lives. Participants are taught how to deal with their feelings when fed up or worried and learn skills to help them tackle problems and navigate life transitions and difficulties.
What You’ll Learn:
- Stress management
- Building self-confidence
- Problem solving
- Managing stress and anxiety
- Anger management
- Increasing motivation
You’ll join a small, supportive group led by certified facilitators, where you can learn at your own pace, share experiences (only if you choose to), and apply the tools to your everyday life.
Length: 1.5 hour/once a week for 8 weeks
Cost: $50
Our next workshop begins October 15th. Click HERE to register.
Understanding Mental Health in Later Life
As we age, maintaining mental health and well-being can become increasingly challenging. The workshops cover a broad range of mental health, addiction and substance use topics.
Older adults may face issues like memory loss, loneliness, and difficulty navigating healthcare systems that can feel overwhelming or inaccessible. We offer a series of 12 evidence-based workshops that can be delivered to older adults in different community settings across Ontario. The workshops cover a broad range of mental health, addiction and substance use topics, including:
| 1. Overview | 7. Delirium |
| 2. Depression | 8. Opioids and other medications |
| 3. Bipolar disorder | 9. Cannabis and alcohol |
| 4. Anxiety disorders | 10. Gambling |
| 5. Dementia | 11. Positive mental health |
| 6.Psychosis | 12. Understanding your care options |
Length: 1.5 hour – 12 workshop options
Cost: Free
Team Up
This workshop is intended to be an interactive learning experience for participants, who have extensive experience as athletes (including supporters and coaches of athletes) in higher levels of sport.
This workshop is designed to promote help-offering behaviours.
Learning Objectives:
At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Acknowledge that suicide exists inside and outside of high-performance sports;
- Identify protective factors, risk factors and warning signs for suicide, including those specific to high-performance athletes; and,
- Use a 5 step-model to get help for someone by connecting them to a trusted helper.
Length: 2.5 hours
CMHA ON Program
In the Know: Agriculture Wellness Ontario Workshop
In the Know is a 4-hour mental health literacy workshop designed to fit better with farmers/producers limited availability owing to rigid daily schedules, distills critical information, and incorporates the agricultural community culture.
The workshop was developed in collaboration with stakeholders’ groups, including various agricultural sectors, mental health literacy trainers, government and representatives from social work, psychology, epidemiology, and education.
Through this free workshop, participants will cover the topics of stress, depression, anxiety, substance use and how to start a conversation around mental well-being.
Length: 4 hours
CMHA ON Program