The Mental Health Commission of Canada reports that one in every five Canadians experiences a mental health or substance use problem within a given year. While people often know a lot about physical illness, most people have less knowledge about mental health or substance use problems.
Mental Health First Aid Standard (Virtual) is an 8-hour course. It opens with a self-directed module (Module 1) that focuses on the information and strategies that participants will discuss and practice throughout the virtual classroom modules (Modules 2 and 3).
Participants of Mental Health First Aid Standard (Virtual) will learn how to:
- Recognize signs that a person may be experiencing a decline in their mental well-being or a mental health or substance use crisis
- Have conversations that encourage a person to:
- Talk about their mental well-being
- Discuss professional and other supports that could help with recovery to improved mental well-being
- Reach out to these supports
- Assist in a mental health or substance use crisis situation
- Check in with one’s own mental well-being and take action as needed
Mental Health First Aid Standard (Virtual) topics include:
- Module 1: Self-Directed
- Introduction to the course
- Introduction to MHFA actions
- Module 2: Virtual Classroom
- Practice applying MHFA actions to situations of declining mental well-being
- Guidelines for MHFA conversations with people from diverse cultures and members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community
- Module 3 Virtual Classroom
- Discussion on using MHFA actions for self-care
- Practice using MHFA actions in crisis situations
Email or call me at (604) 684 – 0584 to schedule a training for your organization.
If you are experiencing a mental health EMERGENCY or CRISIS,
- call 911, go to the nearest emergency room or follow the emergency instructions provided by your doctor, mental health professional or care team. If your community has a mental health car, you can call 911 to request it.
- call 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) to get help right away, any time of day or night. It’s a free call.
If you are in distress,
- call 310-6789 (do not add 604, 778 or 250 before the number) 24 hours a day to connect to a BC crisis line, without a wait or busy signal. The crisis lines linked in through 310-6789 have received advanced training in mental health issues and services by members of the BC Partners for Mental Health and Addictions Information.
For children and youth aged 5 to 20,
- call Kid’s Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868 to speak to a professional counsellor, 24 hours a day. It’s free, confidential, anonymous and available across Canada. They can also refer you to local services and resources. Kid’s Help Phone is available in English and French.
In a mental health NON-EMERGENCY,
- visit heretohelp.bc.ca for info sheets and personal stories about mental illnesses.
- call 811 or visit http://www.healthlinkbc.ca to access free, non-emergency health information for anyone in your family, including mental health information. Through 811, you can also speak to a registered nurse about symptoms you’re worried about, or talk with a pharmacist about medication questions.
- call BC Alcohol and Drug Information and Referral Service at 1-800-663-1441 (or 604-660-9382 in Greater Vancouver) to talk to someone about substance use. They can also connect you with local substance use resources. It’s available 24 hours a day.
