Student Services has additional seats open for the Mental Health First Aid Training from the Mental Health Commission of Canada.
This two-day course is designed to give people the skills to to help someone who is in emotional distress 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 to a person until appropriate treatment is found or until the crisis is resolved. MHFA does not teach participants to become therapists or counsellors. Rather, it provides the skills, knowledge, and attitudes that allow someone to offer effective assistance and to refer the person to appropriate professional resources as necessary.
An important component of MHFA training is the opportunity to practice the intervention strategy rather than to just learn about it. This simple experience can make it easier to apply the knowledge in a real-life situation.
Participants will learn how to have confident and effective conversations about mental health, regardless of whether someone is in crisis or not. This includes recognizing the signs and symptoms of an emerging mental health condition, or noticing a change in someone’s behaviour and starting a conversation with that person.
This course is ideal for those interested in enhancing the ability to respond to and support the well-being of students.
Individuals do not need any skills or training before taking the two-day course. The course is designed to be accessible and helpful for everyone, regardless of their background. Participants must be present for the full length of the course in order to be certified. Participants will receive a certificate of completion after taking the course.
The course will be held on Oct. 5 and 6 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in E202 of the Vernon campus. A 30-minute break will be provided and participants are asked to bring lunch. No materials are required other than a pen and water bottle.
To register, email Jasmine McGee at jmcgee@okanagan.bc.ca.