Mental Health First Aid Basic is a two-day program developed by the Mental Health Commission of Canada and offered to OPS employees across the province. MHFA 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 teaches people how to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health problems, provide initial help, and guide a person towards appropriate professional help.

The course discusses the following mental disorders:

• Substance related disorders
• Mood related disorders
• Anxiety and trauma related disorders
• Psychotic disorders

Crisis first aid skills for the following situations are learned:

• Substance overdose
• Suicidal behaviour
• Panic attack
• Acute stress reaction
• Psychotic episode

Course outline

• Session One: Mental Health and Stigma
• Session Two: Substance-Related Disorders
• Session Three: Mood-Related Disorders
• Session Four: Anxiety and Trauma Related Disorders
• Session Five: Psychotic Disorders

Learning Objectives:

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 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