Mental Health First Aid Certification Course Overview
The Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Certification course provides the knowledge, skills, and attitudes for participants to recognize changes in mental health, respond supportively, and apply practical actions for declining mental health and crisis situations. It helps participants build confidence, reduce stigma, and enhance their own mental health.
Course Objectives
MHFA Certification helps participants:
Increase awareness of mental health
- Distinguish between mental health, mental illness, and mental health conditions.
- Recognize indicators of mental health across the continuum (optimal, declining, poor).
- Understand key information about mental health disorders in Canada.
- Identify factors influencing mental health positively and negatively.
- Explain the Two Continua Model of mental health.
Improve confidence to provide help
- Apply the ALGES framework to scenarios about declining mental health and crisis situations.
- Identify barriers to providing mental health first aid and how to overcome them.
- Ask effective questions to initiate supportive conversations.
- Demonstrate empathy and effective listening skills in supportive interactions.
- Communicate non-judgmentally using verbal and non-verbal skills.
- Provide reassurance and appropriate information in supportive conversations.
- Develop a list of professional, personal, and community resources and supports.
- Explain recovery-oriented approaches to providing support.
Decrease mental health-related stigma
- Explain mental health stigma, including self-stigma, public stigma, and structural stigma.
- Recognize stigmatizing language and practice respectful alternatives.
- Reflect on personal attitudes and biases that contribute to stigma.
- Understand risks and limitations associated with diagnostic labeling.
- Identify practical strategies to challenge and reduce stigma.
Enhance mental health
- Identify personal self-care strategies using the Three Pillars of Self-Care: reflective, purposeful, and boundaries.
- Recognize when self-care is needed as a Mental Health First Aider and how to integrate it into daily life.
- Commit to intentional self-care actions to maintain personal well-being as a Mental Health First Aider.
Course Details
Mental Health First Aid Certification
Delivery Requirements
- The course modules are delivered in sequential order, as each module builds on learning from the previous module.
- Participant may take the course virtually or in person.
- Participants must complete all the modules in the same delivery format with the same group/cohort.
- The course is 12 hours in duration and may be delivered:
- On two consecutive days, with breaks between modules
- On two full days within two weeks, at six hours per day, with breaks between modulesTo receive a certificate of completion, participants must complete a full course.
Course Objectives
The MHFA course helps participants:
Increase their awareness of mental health
- Distinguish between mental health, mental illness, and mental health conditions.
- Recognize indicators of mental health across the continuum (optimal, declining, poor).
Improve their confidence to provide help
- Apply the ALGES framework in scenarios of declining mental health and crisis.
- Demonstrate empathy and effective listening skills in supportive interactions.
- Communicate non-judgmentally using verbal and non-verbal skills.
- Provide reassurance and appropriate information in supportive conversations.
- Explain recovery-oriented approaches to providing support.
Decrease their mental health-related stigma
- Recognize stigmatizing language and practice respectful alternatives.
- Reflect on personal attitudes and biases that contribute to stigma.
- Understand risks and limitations associated with diagnostic labelling.
Enhance their mental health
- Identify personal self-care strategies using the Three Pillars of Self-Care: reflective, purposeful, and boundaries.
- Recognize when self-care is needed as a Mental Health First Aiders and how to integrate it into daily life.
- Commit to intentional self-care actions to maintain personal well-being as a Mental Health First Aider.
Mental Health First Aid does not teach participants to become therapists or counsellors. Rather, it provides the skills, knowledge, and attitudes that allow someone to offer effective first aid intervention.
Course Structure
This course flows through eight sections.
1. Welcome and Introductions
Participants set the stage by establishing group norms and guidelines for a safe, inclusive learning environment. They share initial expectations and perceived challenges to foster engagement throughout the course.
2. Goals of Mental Health First Aid
The overall goals and outcomes of the MHFA course are presented. Learners clarify the purpose and responsibilities associated with being a Mental Health First Aider. By the end of this module, learners will be able to:
- Clarify the course objectives and the role of a Mental Health First Aider.
3. What is Mental Health?
This module introduces definitions of mental health, mental illness, and related conditions. It also discusses the limitations of the DSM-5, the prevalence of mental health disorders, and the risks of labelling. Participants examine three different types of stigma—self, public, and structural—and their impacts. They practice identifying stigma and reflecting on personal biases to effectively challenge stigma. Finally, participants explore the Mental Health Continuum and the Two Continua Model, recognizing the complexity and variability of mental health. By the end of this module, learners will be able to:
- Define mental health.
- Distinguish between mental health, mental illness, and mental health conditions.
- Better understand mental health disorders and their prevalence.
- Appreciate what support looks like to someone living with a mental health condition.
- Discuss risks and limitations associated with diagnostic labelling.
- Describe types of stigma (self, public, structural).
- Reflect on personal attitudes contributing to stigma.
- Explain the Two Continua Model of mental health.
4. Elements of ALGES
Through interactive learning, learners familiarize themselves with the ALGES framework and gain clarity on each action to respond to a person experiencing mental health decline. The structured approach prepares participants for supportive interactions. By the end of this module, learners will be able to:
- Explain each action of the ALGES framework clearly.
- Identify indicators of declining mental health.
- Build a repository of questions to start a discussion about mental health.
- Demonstrate empathy.
- Effectively give reassurance.
- Handle challenges related to seeking mental health support.
- Understand the importance of a recovery orientation.
- Identify and practice respectful alternatives to stigmatizing language.
- Ask someone which support would be most helpful.
- Create a list of resources in their community.
5. Mental Health First Aid for Declining Mental Health
Through scenario-based activities, learners apply ALGES to situations involving declining mental health. They enhance skills in effective questioning, empathetic listening, and connecting individuals with resources, guided by recovery-oriented principles. By the end of this module, learners will be able to:
- Apply ALGES to declining mental health scenarios.
- Challenge their assumptions about individuals needing support.
- Demonstrate effective questioning and non-judgmental communication.
- Provide empathetic reassurance, information, and connection to resources.
- Integrate a recovery orientation in providing support.
6. Self-Care for Mental Health First Aiders
This module highlights the importance of self-care practices for maintaining personal mental health while supporting others. Participants develop intentional, reflective, purposeful, and boundary-setting self-care plans.
By the end of this module, learners will be able to:
- Develop an understanding of the definition of self-care.
- Identify and apply personal self-care strategies.
- Discuss the Three Pillars of Self-Care (reflective, purposeful, boundaries).
- Commit to intentional self-care practices.
7. MHFA for Crisis Situations
Participants learn to recognize and respond effectively to mental health crises, including suicidal behaviour, panic attacks, acute stress reactions, non-suicidal self-injury, and psychotic episodes. They distinguish between crisis and emergency responses, applying ALGES appropriately. By the end of this module, learners will be able to:
- Distinguish between crisis and emergency responses.
- Recognize warning signs of suicide.
- recognize indicators of mental health crises (panic attacks, acute stress,non-suicidal self-injury and psychotic episodes).
- Effectively apply ALGES to crisis situations.
8.Wrap-up and Closing
Participants review key course learnings and identify actionable next steps. They commit to enhancing personal well-being beyond the course.
By the end of this module, learners will be able to:
- Commit to self-care activities.
- Reflect on overall learning outcomes and their application.
- Identify next steps for ongoing mental health support and self-care.
Duration
12 hours total including breaks. Please see delivery options above.
Group Size
Virtual delivery: Minimum 8 participants, Maximum 15
Face-to-face delivery: Minimum 8 participants, Maximum 25
Pricing
Pricing varies with location and number of participants. Please request a quote.
Instructor
The course is delivered by a certified trainer for Mental Health First Aid Canada.
Prerequisite
No previous training required.
Participants must be at least 18 years old.
Certification
After you have completed your Mental Health First Aid course, your instructor will submit the course roster to the Opening MInds/ Mental Health Commission (MHCC). Opening Minds will email you an link that includes a short survey and your certificate. This process takes about 1-2 weeks.
Participant Materials
Handout
The participant handout assists the participants throughout the course. Received at the beginning, the handout is an integral part of the learning experience and is referenced throughout the course. The handout includes:
- Definitions of key terms and concepts
- Visual description of key information
- Learning scenarios and discussion questions
- Space to take notes during individual reflection and group discussions
Resource Hub
Opening Minds maintains an online resource hub with a comprehensive list of
resources and supports services for mental health and well-being. The English and
French links to the resource hub are:
- r.openingminds.org
- r.changerlesmentalites.org
These can be accessed at any time and are included in the course handout that each participant receives.
Why provide Mental Health First Aid training to your employees?
Employers often provide mental health first aid training to their employees for the following reasons:
- Improve employee morale and retention
- Lower rates of absenteeism
- Reduce medical and disability costs
- Help reduce the stigma around mental health issues
- Show your employees they care about them
To save money and have a happier, more productive workforce, get your employees trained in Mental Health First Aid. Ask us for a quote today.
Mental Health First Aid Virtual Training for Private Groups
Private group training is easy to organize. Book your class dates with us, provide a group of people and we'll take care of everything else.
Click here to request information and a quote or to schedule a class for your team.
Frequently asked questions about Mental Health First Aid
For general questions about certifications, payments, etc. See our comprehensive FAQ page.
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.
For additional information, please see our About Mental Health First Aid page.
Here are five good reasons:
- Improve employee morale and retention
- Reduce absenteeism
- Reduce medical and disability costs
- Reduce stigma around mental health issues
- Show your employees that you care about them
If you want to save money and have a happier, more productive workforce, get your employees trained in Mental Health First Aid. We can teach a private class for your team.
Mental Health First Aid is intended for all Canadians. Since 2007, MHFA has been offered in every sector and region of the country, encompassing friends and families of individuals with a mental illness or addiction, workplaces, primary care, secondary and post-secondary educational institutions, government, construction, youth and community development programs, first responders, and many others.
A moderator is required to assist with the virtual training. You can provide a member of staff, or our instructor can make arrangements for a moderator for an additional fee.
Opening Minds, a division of the Mental Health Commission of Canada, is the leading provider of evidence-based mental health training programs and stigma reduction initiatives across Canada.
Frequently asked questions about Mental Health First Aid
For general questions about certifications, payments, etc. See our comprehensive FAQ page.
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.
For additional information, please see our About Mental Health First Aid page.
- Improve employee morale and retention
- Reduce absenteeism
- Reduce medical and disability costs
- Reduce stigma around mental health issues
- Show your employees that you care about them
The minimum age is 18 years.
A moderator is required to assist with the virtual training. You can provide a member of staff, or our instructor can make arrangements for a moderator for an additional fee.
While the base information for Essentials and Certification is similar, MHFA Certification adds additional coverage for mental health disorders and their prevalence, as well as more scenario-based training exercises and discussions around key concepts.
Certification is only available through the two-day MHFA Certification course. If you have taken MHFA Standard or Basic courses within the last 24 months, you have the opportunity to upskill through MHFA Bridge to Certification.
MHFA Basic and MHFA Standard will be discontinued as of March 31st, 2026. These courses have been updated, and we now recommend you register for Mental Health First Aid Essentials and Mental Health First Aid Certification.
To request a quote or more information about these courses, please contact us.