MHFA: Supporting Older Adults
Help older adults thrive
Support older adults in maintaining mental wellness and well-being.
Supporting Older Adults enhances empowers you to promote mental wellness in seniors, prevent mental illness and suicide, and intervene early when issues arise.
The course content and resources are grounded in evidence-based research and best practices, created in collaboration with Canadian geriatric psychiatry experts. Developed by the Mental Health Commission of Canada in partnership with Trillium Health Partners, this program reflects a strong commitment to supporting the mental health and well-being of older adults.
Who Is It for? Designed for family members, caregivers, community health workers, and volunteers.
MHFA Supporting Older Adults is an elective course within the Geriatric Certificate Program and is open to both the Regulated and Non-Regulated Education Streams.
As a Mental Health First Aider for older adults, you will learn:
Recognize signs
Recognize the symptoms of mental health problems or crises as they develop in seniors
Discuss Support
Provide the initial help to seniors
Initiate Conversations
Guide a senior and caregiver towards appropriate professional help
Assist
Provide strategies and resources to support both seniors and their caregivers
Course structured for impact
This 10-hour course opens with a self-directed module (Module 1) that focuses on the information and strategies that participants will discuss and practise throughout the virtual classroom modules (Modules 2 and 3). Upon registration, participants receive a link to the “MHFA Reference Guide” that outlines MHFA actions for developing mental health and substance use problems, and mental health crises.
Module 1
Older Adults:
Canada’s aging population • What is health? • What are mental health problems? • Older adults living with mental illness • Recovery and resilience
Module 2
Mental Health First Aid Older Adults:
What is Mental Health First Aid? • MHFA for older adults • Aims of Mental Health First Aid for older adults • Stigma • Who are Mental Health First Aiders for older adults likely to be? • Engage in self-care
Module 3
Substance-related disorders for older adults
What is a substance-related disorder?
• Types of substance-related disorders
• Signs and symptoms
• Risk factors • MHFA for a substance-related disorder • Crisis first aid for an overdose
Module 4
Mood-related disorders for older adults:
What is a mood-related disorder? • Types of mood-related disorders • Signs and symptoms • Physical health and depression in seniors • Risk factors • Suicide • MHFA for a mood-related disorder • Crisis first aid for suicidal behaviour
Module 5
Anxiety and trauma-related disorders for older adults:
What are anxiety and trauma-related disorders? • What causes anxiety in older adults? • Types of anxiety and trauma-related disorders • Signs and symptoms • Risk factors • MHFA for anxiety and trauma-related problems • Crisis first aid for panic attacks • Crisis first aid for acute stress reactions
Module 6
Dementia
Aging and cognition • What is dementia? • Types of dementia • Signs and symptoms • Risk factors • Behavioural and psychological changes • Responsive behaviours • MHFA for dementia
Module 7
Delirium
What is delirium? • Types of delirium • Signs and symptoms • Risk factors • Undiagnosed / untreated delirium • MHFA for delirium
Module 8
Substance-related disorders for older adults
What is psychosis? • Types of psychosis • Signs and symptoms • Risk factors • Causes of psychosis in older adults • MHFA for psychosis • Crisis first aid for a psychotic episode
Learn how to use ALIFE
ALIFE is the framework for having a confident conversation about mental health with family, friends, colleagues, and strangers.
- Assess safety: risk of suicide, serious physical deterioration, and/or harm to others
- Listen non-judgmentally
- Information and reassurance
- Facilitate the senior getting appropriate professional help
- Encourage support for the senior and caregiver
Flexible learning options to meet your needs
- Virtual Classes: Facilitated on-line session for 8 to 15 participants
- In-Person Classes: Facilitated session for 8 to 25 participants
Mental Health First Aid Training Options
When training reflects real experiences from a community, the impact becomes even more meaningful. In addition to MHFA: Supporting Older Adults, 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.
