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An Introduction to Mental Health and
Mental Health First Aid Canada
Mental Health Commission of Canada
Presented by: Shawna Lee
Learning Objectives
• Consider the disabling nature of many mental
illnesses
• Increase mental health literacy
• Discover how Mental Health First Aid completes
your first aid training
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Overview of Presentation
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What is MHFA?
Origin of MHFA & International growth
MHFA & the Mental Health Commission of Canada
Evidence-Based
• Course Content: Basic MHFA
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What is Mental Health First Aid?
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.
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MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID
• Supports the Mental Health Strategy for Canada
“People need knowledge and skills which help them to recognize mental health problems
and illnesses, in themselves or others, so that everyone can obtain the support that they
need as early as possible... Ideally, acquiring this kind of knowledge of mental health and
mental illness will become as widespread as training in first aid for physical injuries and
illnesses.”
• Supports the Action Guide for Employers
“The enhancement of knowledge about psychological health to facilitate recognition,
identification, and management of psychological problems.”
• Will support the National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety
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MHFA does not train people to
become counselors or
therapists.
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What is Mental Health First Aid?
Three primary objectives and outcomes:
1. Increase recognition of signs and symptoms (specific
component)
2. Increase helping behaviour (specific component)
3. Decrease stigma (woven throughout the course)
The ability to start conversations, provide encouragement, and
steer toward appropriate resources are included.
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Aims of Mental Health First Aid
• 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.
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Rationale
• 1 in 3 people will experience a mental health problem at some
point in their lifetime
• Members of the general public often do not know how to respond
and are not well informed about Mental Health problems
• Not everyone with a Mental Health problem seeks help
• There is STIGMA associated with Mental Health problems
• Early intervention can ease suffering and prevent complications
• Mental Illnesses are among the most disabling
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“Disability”
Refers to the amount of disruption that a
health problem causes to a person’s ability to
work, look after themselves and carry on
their relationships with family and friends.
Arrange the slips from least to most disabling.
(Some conditions may be equally disabling)
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How Disabling is Mental Illness?
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Gingivitis
Mild asthma
Low back pain, uncomplicated diabetes
Mild depression, epilepsy
Mild/moderate panic disorder
Anorexia, mild/moderate OCD, non-invasive breast cancer
Moderate depression, severe asthma, complete hearing loss, chronic
hepatitis B infection
Severe vision loss, operable small cell lung cancer
Severe post-traumatic stress disorder, paraplegia
Severe depression, brain injury with permanent impairments
Severe schizophrenia, quadriplegia, end-stage Parkinson’s, severe
dementia
Disabling Nature of Mental Illnesses
• Mental illness can be a major cause of
long-term disability
• Of the 10 leading causes of disability worldwide, five are mental illnesses
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MHFA’s Origin and International Growth
MHFA in 23
countries
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• Developed,
Australia 2001
• Orygen Research,
University of
Melbourne
• Dr. Anthony Jorm,
Researcher Betty
Kitchener
The Course
Basic Adult: 12 hours / 2 days / 4 sessions
Adults who work with Youth: 14 hours / 2 days / 4 sessions
MHFA Northern People: 21 hours/3 days
Instructor Training: 5 days – basic & youth/ 6 days- NP
Upcoming Adaptations for:
First Nations
Inuit
Seniors
Veterans
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About MHFA and MHCC
•MHFA Canada is a program of The Mental Health
Commission of Canada [MHCC]
•MHCC:
- Mission: promote mental health in Canada, and work with stakeholders
to change the attitudes of Canadians toward mental health problems, and
to improve services and support.
- Vision: a society that values and promotes mental health and helps
people who live with mental health problems and mental illness lead
meaningful and productive lives.
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Evidence-Based
Over 16 Published Evaluations
International research has shown that this evidencebased course offers significant positive impacts for
participants and their workplaces, communities, and
families, namely:
• Significantly greater recognition of the most common mental
health problems
• Decreased social distance from people with mental health
problems
• Increased confidence in providing help to others
• Improved mental health of the MHFA participant her/himself
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MHFA Course Content
• Explanations of mental health, mental illness and
mental health problems
• Signs and symptoms of common mental health
problems and crisis situations
• Information about effective interventions and
treatments
• Ways to access professional help
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Basic MHFA Course Content
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Mental Health & Mental Health Problems
Substance-Related Disorders
• Understanding signs &
Mood Disorders
symptoms
Anxiety Disorders
• How to Help (MHFA)
Psychotic Disorders
Crisis First Aid
Mental Health First Aid is the help provided to a person
developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental
health crisis:
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Suicidal behaviour
Overdoses
Panic Attacks
Reactions to traumatic events
Psychotic episodes
Just as physical first aid is administered to an injured person
before medical treatment can be obtained, MHFA is provided
until appropriate support is found or until the crisis is resolved.
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Participant Course Delivery
MHFA Course Delivery Options:
• 2 consecutive days or spaced
• 4 three-hour modules over time
• All participants receive the Mental Health First Aid Canada
certificate contingent on attending the full 2-days
• Variety of learning tools:
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Lecture
Case Studies
Role Play
Videos
Why MHFA for professors?
• 50% of all mental illnesses begin by age 14
• 75% of all mental illnesses begin by age 24
• Changes in attendance and assignments may be
signs of a developing mental health problems
• Youth may be reluctant to speak with their parents,
and look to another trusted adult to speak with
about changes in mental health
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Participant Feedback
“The course was great!
Informative and
interesting.”
“Each topic is covered
with the right amount
of depth and info”
“I really enjoyed this
course.”
“Valuable for all
professionals
working with youth.”
“The content really
met my needs.”
“I will use the info in
my personal and
professional life.”
“Extremely helpful because it gave actual and realistic strategies.”
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Thank you!
Check out the PD Calendar for MHFA
training ongoing!
[email protected] X55377
For more information on Mental Health First Aid Visit:
www.mentalhealthcommission.ca or www.mentalhealthfirstaid.ca
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The views represented herein solely represent the views of the Mental Health Commission of Canada.
Production of this document is made possible through a financial contribution from Health Canada.
Les opinions exprimées aux présentes sont celles de la Commission de la santé mentale du Canada.
La production de ce document a été rendue possible grâce à la contribution financière de Santé Canada.
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