Mental Health First Aid Canada Basic Course Information
(Pre-approved for 10 CEU)

Course Outline

Session 1: Mental Health and Mental Illness

• Mental Health First Aid
• Common mental health problems
• The five basic steps of mental health first aid
• What are substance use disorders?
• Symptoms and risk factors
• Crisis first aid for overdose
• Mental health first aid for substance use disorders
• Treatment and resources

Session 2: Mood Disorders

• What is depression?
• Symptoms of depression
• Risk factors for depression
• What is bipolar disorder?
• Symptoms of bipolar dissorder
• Risk factors for bipolar disorder 
• Alcohol, drugs and depression
• Suicide in Canada
• Crisis first aid for suicidal behaviour
• Mental health first aid for mood disorders 
• Treatment and resources

Session 3: Anxiety Disorders

• What are anxiety disorders?
• Symptoms of anxiety disorders
• Risk factors for anxiety disorders
• Alcohol, drugs and anxiety disorders
• Crisis first aid for panic attacks
• Crisis first aid for acute stress reaction
• Mental health first aid for anxiety disorders
• Treatment and resources

Session 4: Psychosis

• What are psychotic disorders?
• Symptoms of psychotic disorders
• Risk factors for psychosis
• Alcohol, drugs and psychotic disorders
• Crisis first aid for acute psychosis
• Mental health first aid for psychosis
• Treatment and resources
• Other expressions of distress