Aims to provide useful, hands-on coping strategies, practical stress-management skills for workers
The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) has developed three free crisis response training programs designed to help front-line workers deal with the stress of COVID-19.
"I believe in paying it forward," said Louise Bradley, president and CEO of the MHCC. "We're seeing all kinds of organizations stepping into the breach to do their part, from making protective gear to building ventilators. We asked ourselves, 'What is it that we can offer?' and the answer was clear: mental health training."
Caring for Yourself – a two-hour course – and Caring for Your Team – a three-hour course – focus on understanding, assessing, and improving mental health, both as an individual and within group settings. The two-hour course Caring for Others focuses on how to confidently engage in conversations about mental health during a crisis, whether it is with your family and friends or in your communities and workplaces.
Participants will be introduced to the Mental Health Continuum Model, the "Big 4" coping strategies and other tools to foster mental wellness and improve resiliency.
"We saw a need and were able to quickly pivot from our usual in-person, in-depth courses, and adapt our skills-based approach to this new context," said Mike Pietrus, director of the MHCC's Opening Minds anti-stigma initiative. "As we paused our traditional course delivery, it was quickly evident that we could harness the tremendous skills of our trainers to bring some useful, hands-on coping strategies and practical stress-management skills to a community that is doing so much to keep the country up and running and safe."
The three new online programs ꟷ Caring for Yourself, Caring for Your Team and Caring for Others ꟷ are based on the MHCC's in-person courses: Mental Health First Aid and The Working Mind. The commission, however, noted that these courses will not replace other courses offered at MHCC.
Essential workers can apply for the free course here. Registration for these courses will be on a first-come, first-serve basis.
