About Mental Health First Aid Standard

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) provides you with the skills needed to extend crucial support to individuals navigating mental health problems or crises. Much like traditional first aid, MHFA fosters the ability to identify common signs of distress and deliver immediate aid until professional assistance is accessible.

MHFA Standard is an evidence-based course offered online or in person. It combines 2 hours of independent online learning with 6 hours of in-class instruction. The focus of MHFA Standard is on noticing, responding to, and challenging stigma about, mental health problems. It is an interactive learning experience with a live instructor and uses group discussions, oral and written activities, and multimedia to engage a variety of learning styles.

Flexible Delivery Options

Online training for 8-15 participants.

In person training for 8-25 participants.

Scheduling options include 1 full day of training or 2 half-days of training.

Course Outline

Module 1 (2 hours): Self-directed module that introduces participants to the concepts of the course and Mental Health First Aid actions. Participants complete this module independently online before the group sessions of the next two modules.

Module 2 (3 hours): Live classroom module (in person or virtual) that discusses strategies for how to apply MHFA actions to a variety of situations of declining mental well-being.

Module 3 (3 hours): Live classroom module (in person or virtual) that enhances skills in crisis management and highlights the importance of self-care.

Participants will learn the five core actions of MHFA using the acronym ALGES:

• Assess the risk of suicide and/or harm

• Listen non-judgmentally

• Give reassurance and information

• Encourage supports, both professional and non-professional

• Self- Care for everyone, including the first-aider

What outcomes can you expect?

MHFA Standard has been proven to give participants:

• the tools to recognize signs of decline in mental well-being.

• the ability to talk about their and others’ mental health.

• the knowledge to discuss professional and other supports that could help with recovery or improved mental well-being.

• the confidence to reach out to these supports.

• the tools to assist during a mental health or substance use crisis, and

• the knowledge to use MHFA actions to maintain their own mental wellness.

Independent evaluations of MHFA programs have shown that one of the most significant benefits is changed behaviour - participants are more likely to challenge mental health stigma, to reach out to someone else who is struggling, and to know how to help themselves when their mental health declines.

Who should take Mental Health First Aid?

The short answer is: any adult. MHFA is designed to give everyone who participates a sense of increased confidence in recognizing and responding to signs of declining mental well-being. We’ve had mental health experts and people who’ve never talked about mental health before in trainings together, and everyone learns something new.

Some of the industries we most commonly serve include: healthcare, education and student support services, community and volunteer agencies, social services, legal services, manufacturing, agriculture, and many more.

What’s a MHFA training session like?

• We start promptly, as we’ve got lots to talk about

• We do housekeeping, talk about the overall course, introduce ourselves, and review key messages from Module 1

• In Module 2 and Module 3, we use a combination of large and small group discussions, polls, videos, scenarios, and more to keep things interesting

• We debrief each activity together as a large group

• We take regular stretch breaks (and a longer break for lunch if it’s a full-day course)

• We talk about challenging things with humour and heart

• You are invited to do what you need to make the learning environment work for you. Doodling, stimming, service animals, and moving around are all welcome.

• You can ask questions any time

(For online sessions only:)

• We meet via Zoom (or Teams, if your workplace requires it)

• You can participate via the microphone and/or via the chat function

• Your camera has to be on for the duration of the course; this is partly so that your instructor can make sure you’re present and engaged, and partly so we can see your pets when they make an appearance :)

What does it cost?

Contact us for a free consultation about your group’s needs and a detailed quote. Pricing depends on factors such as delivery format (online vs. virtual) and group size.

Discounts are available for large groups as well as not-for-profit and community agencies upon request.

What do participants say about taking Mental Health First Aid training with Open Minds?

“Thank you for such a comfortable and friendly approach to such a heavy topic. You worked with our group very effectively.”

“I liked – loved, actually – the course very much. I was able to relate the course to (my) volunteering. There was a lot of info that could also be applied to other situations in our lives. So interesting! Sarah, you are awesome. Thanks!”

“This is a great course for volunteers, instructors, teachers, coaches… pretty much anyone.”

“Excellent course, excellent instructor. Sarah did a great job of making the content interesting and interactive.”

“This was an excellent follow-up to the ASIST training I’ve had in the past."

"As a nurse, I need to know about how to help people with mental health problems. This course is very beneficial."

“Very informative, and presented in a way that soaked in. I was able to retain a lot. Sarah made the space safe for us to explore these topics and provided lots of value-added tidbits.”

“This course was wonderful, informative, and extremely useful.”

"Excellent course! I will recommend it often!"

“I feel much more confident & knowledgeable in dealing with mental health clients/individuals and the signs/symptoms of mental health problems.”

“How timely it was! I used what I learned the very next day.”

"This was a learning experience for me. It was a good opportunity to develop a positive and non-judgmental approach."

“Very interesting. Lots of ideas and strategies to use in dealing with students experiencing mental health issues.”