Mental Health First Aid

Mental Health First Aid Canada gives people the skills to provide that early help that is so important in recovery. Participants will learn the signs and symptoms of mental health problems and where and how to get help in Grey and Bruce. One in three Canadians will experience a mental health problem at some point in their life. The earlier a problem is detected and treated, the better the outcome.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is the 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.

The MHFA Canada program aims to improve mental health literacy, and provide the skills and knowledge to help people better manage potential or developing mental health problems in themselves, a family member, a friend or a colleague.

The program does not teach people how to be therapists. It does teach people how to:

• Recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health problems.
• Provide initial help.
• Guide a person towards appropriate professional help.

MHFA shares the same overall purpose as traditional first aid – to save lives. It aims to:

• 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.

CMHA Grey Bruce offers basic training on Mental Health First Aid (12 hours) as well as MHFA for adults who interact with youth (14 hours).

For more information, find out about our next session or to book a private group call Jackie at 519-371-3642 or email at [email protected]

Mental Health First Aid is a program of the Mental Health Commission of Canada.