In Spring, 2012, Humber launched a Mental Health First Aid training initiative with the goal of helping our community members better understand how to support one another. We know that one in three Canadians will experience a mental health problem at some point in their life. The earlier a problem is detected and treated, the better the outcome. Mental Health First Aid Canada gives people the skills to provide that early help that is so important in recovery.

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.

The program does not teach people how to be therapists. It does teach people how to:

• Recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health problems.
• Provide initial help.
• Guide a person towards appropriate professional help.

MHFA shares the same overall purpose as traditional first aid – to save lives. It aims to:

• Preserve life where a person may be a danger to themselves or others.
• Provide help to prevent the mental health problem from developing into a more serious state.
• Promote the recovery of good mental health.
• Provide comfort to a person experiencing a mental health problem.

Recognizing the importance of these issues, Deans, Associate Deans and other senior administrative leaders all completed this two day course in May 2012. Over 200 additional Humber community members have been trained since – including Program Coordinators, Student Success and Engagement staff and faculty, HSF leaders, Resident Assistants, and Registration staff. We are now offering this training opportunity to the broader community, and welcome your registration to participate.

Please note: this is a certificate course, and participants must be available to complete the full 14 hours of the course, typically delivered over two full days.

All sessions 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

More information about this program and what the course covers can be found at www.mentalhealthfirstaid.ca.

 Please register for any of these workshops via the Training & Development registration form.