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Course Description
Mental Health First Aid
About:
Great Plains College has partnered with Opening Minds to offer the Mental Health First Aid Essentials course. Opening Minds is a not-for-profit organization whose focus is on providing training and knowledge to talk about mental health and reduce stigma surrounding mental illness.
Opening Minds was created by the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) and is leading the effort to eradicate stigma associated with mental health.
This course will be facilitated by Crystal Bradshaw, a GPC staff member who has 10+ years of experience working in the field of mental health with the vulnerable sector of the population. Her expertise will be an asset as participants work through this training.
Course Objective:
While we often know a lot about physical illness, there tends to be less knowledge about mental health or substance use problems. This lack of understanding leads to fear and negative attitudes toward individuals living with mental health or substance use problems. It prevents people from seeking help and providing appropriate support to people around them.
MHFA Essentials is designed to be accessible and applicable across many settings, Essentials offers a strong foundation in MHFA principles without formal assessment or certification—making it an ideal option for individuals, teams, or communities seeking meaningful, time-efficient training.
Through the course participants will:
Increase Mental Health Awareness
Understand stigma, diagnostic labelling, and barriers to helping
Learn how to use the ALGES framework to support
Learn effective communication techniques
Learn reflective Self-Awareness
Review mental health support resource mapping
Course length is 9 hours of instruction offered over 2 days of in-class training:
- Day 1 - 8:30 am - 3:30 pm
- Day 2 - 8:30 am - 12:00 pm
Course Overview:
1
Welcome and Introductions:
Participants set group expectations and create a safe, respectful space for learning together.
2
Goals of Mental Health First Aid:
This section outlines the course objectives and clarifies the role and responsibilities of a Mental Health First Aider.
3
What is Mental Health:
Participants explore definitions of mental health, the impact of stigma, and learn to recognize mental health on a continuum.
4
5
Mental Health First Aid for Declining Mental Health:
Using real-life scenarios, participants practice applying ALGES to support people experiencing early signs of mental health decline.
6
Self-Care for Mental Health First Aiders:
This module emphasizes the importance of caring for your own mental health and building sustainable, personalized self-care routines.
7
MHFA for Crisis Situations:
Participants learn to recognize and respond to mental health crises, including suicide risk and psychosis, using the ALGES approach.
8
Wrap-up and Closing:
The course ends with a reflection on key takeaways, commitment to self-care, and steps for continued learning and support.
Kindersley
Swift Current
| Offering Date |
|---|
| May 27, 2026 - May 28, 2026, 8:30 am - 3:30 pm |