Mental Health First Aid Training

Gain skills. Build confidence. Make a difference.

Join Mates for a 7.5-hour Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) course, certified by the Mental Health Commission of Canada, and learn how to recognize signs of mental health concerns, respond to crises, and support others effectively.

📍 Location: St. Jerome’s University Academic Centre (SJ2), Room 2001
🗓️ Date: November 14
🕘 Time: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM (In-person)
💰 Cost: Offered at a significantly reduced rate for UW students

About the Course

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) 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.

Learning Objectives

The MHFA course helps participants:

1. Increase their awareness of mental health

• Distinguish between mental health, mental illness, and mental health conditions.
• Recognize indicators of mental health across the continuum (optimal, declining, poor).

2. Improve their confidence to provide help

• Apply the ALGES framework in scenarios of declining mental health and crisis.
• Demonstrate empathy and effective listening skills in supportive interactions.
• Communicate non-judgmentally using verbal and non-verbal skills.
• Provide reassurance and appropriate information in supportive conversations.
• Explain recovery-oriented approaches to providing support.

3. Decrease their mental health-related stigma

• Recognize stigmatizing language and practice respectful alternatives.
• Reflect on personal attitudes and biases that contribute to stigma.
• Understand risks and limitations associated with diagnostic labeling.

4. Enhance their mental health

• Identify personal self-care strategies using the Three Pillars of Self-Care: reflective, purposeful, and boundaries.
• Recognize when self-care is needed as a Mental Health First Aiders and how to integrate it into daily life.
• Commit to intentional self-care actions to maintain personal well-being as a Mental Health First Aider.

To learn more about the MHFA Essentials course, please click here!

Why Participate?

• Gain nationally recognized MHFA certification.
• Build confidence to respond to real-life situations.
• Support peers and community members effectively.
• Strengthen your own mental health resilience.                                                                                                                                                                                

Spots are limited — register below 👇

🎟️ Tickets close: Nov 11 at midnight
Please note: All sales are final after this date and time. No refunds will be issued.

Have questions? Email us at mates@wusa.ca

Event subject to change. Please visit this page for the latest updates.