MHFA: Inuit
Tailored Support for Inuit Communities
Foster culturally grounded mental wellness within Inuit communities.
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Inuit is a course designed by Inuit, for Inuit and for those who work with Inuit. The three-day in-person course encourages people across Inuit Nunangat to have conversations about mental wellness with family, friends, and colleagues. Addressing the stigma associated with mental health and wellness can be challenging, MHFA Inuit provides a foundation from which participants have an opportunity to learn from their own people in a culturally safe, and competent environment.
Who is it for? Inuit and those who work with/ interact with Inuit
As a Mental Health First Aider, you will learn to:
Recognize Signs
Increase awareness of the signs and indicators impacting mental wellness and decrease stigma about mental health and wellness
Discuss Unique Perspectives
Recognize how colonization and intergenerational trauma, and their ongoing impact affects mental health and wellness in Inuit communities
Initiate Conversations
Increase awareness and encourage meaningful discussions about mental wellness
Assist
Increase confidence and skills to help those living with mental wellness concerns
Course structured for impact
All MHFA Inuit courses are delivered by two certified co-facilitators and offer interactive activities, scenario-based discussions, complimentary handouts, and reference guides and to ensure cultural competency.
Health and Mental Health
What is health? • Historical content of Inuit well-being • Intergenerational trauma • Protective factors • What is mental health? • Concurrent disorders • Mental health issues and specific groups • Recovery and healing
Mental Health First Aid
What is mental health first aid? • Why is mental health first aid? • The 5 basic actions of ALGEE
Substance-related disorders:
What is a substance-related disorder? • What types of substances do people use? • Signs and symptoms of substance use problems • Categories of substances • Alcohol • Risk factors • MHFA for substance-related disorders
Mood Related Disorders
What is a mood related disorder? • What is grief? • Types of mood-related disorders • Signs and symptoms • Risk factors • Substance use and mood-related disorders • MHFA for mood-related disorders
Suicide
What is suicide? • Why do people turn to suicide? • Suicide by Inuit • Risk factors • Protective factors  • MHFA for suicide
Deliberate Self-Injury
What is Deliberate self-injury? • Why do People self-injure? • Types of Deliberate Self-Injury • How common is Self-Injury? • Risk factors • MHFA for Deliberate Self-Injury
Anxiety and Trauma-Related Disorders
What is anxiety? • How common are anxiety sisorders? • Signs and symptoms of anxiety • Types of anxiety and trauma-related disorders • Substance use and anxiety disorders • Risk factors • MHFA for Anxiety and mood-related disorders
Psychotic Disorders
What is a psychotic disorder? • Early intervention • Common signs and symptoms that a psychotic disorder is developing • Risk factors • MHFA for psychotic disorders
Learn how to use ALGEE
ALGEE is the framework for having a confident conversation about mental health with family, friends, colleagues, and strangers.
- Approach the person, assess, and assist with any crisis
- Listen and communicate non-judgmentally
- Give reassurance and information
- Encourage the person to reach out to supports
- Encourage other supports
Method of Instruction
- In-Person sessions for 8 to 25 participants
- All sessions are Co-Facilitator Led
Mental Health First Aid Training Options
When training reflects real experiences from a community, the impact becomes even more meaningful. In addition to MHFA Standard, we offer a suite of tailored MHFA courses.
Become a Certified MHFA Facilitator
The Facilitator Certification Training is designed for people who want to offer the MHFA course in the communities, workplaces or organizations. As a Certified MHFA facilitator you will join the Opening Minds Facilitator Community that is over 1000 people strong across Canada.
Mental Health First Aid Case Studies
Learn more about how MHFA is helping to transform mental wellness in organizations across Canada.
