01 May 2026: Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) – Opening Minds Welcomes MHFA Ireland as Latest Partner to Integrate The Working Mind into their mental health training portfolio
The Mental Health Commission of Canada is pleased to announce that MHFA Ireland, a key player in Ireland’s mental health landscape, has adopted The Working Mind into its training portfolio, a strategic move that reflects the organization’s commitment to addressing both upstream prevention and downstream intervention needs in Irish workplaces.
The Working Mind, developed by Opening Minds (an initiative of the Mental Health Commission of Canada), is a uniquely designed, evidence-based program that transforms the way people think, feel, and act about mental health in workplace environments. Purposefully built with customization at its core, The Working Mind provides a flexible foundation that enables organizations like MHFA Ireland to adapt the program to reflect local contexts, cultural nuances, and regional workplace needs. Participants develop practical skills to recognize mental health challenges, reduce stigma, and foster workplace cultures of psychological safety and resilience, outcomes that reflect The Working Mind’s distinctive dual focus on both individual capability and organizational culture change. The program leverages the Mental Health Continuum framework and RAMP, a proprietary tool to equip participants with actionable strategies for supporting mental health across the full spectrum of employee well-being, from prevention through recovery. This adoption by MHFA Ireland highlights the growing demand for integrated mental health solutions from organizations nationwide.
“Ireland’s adoption of The Working Mind places us firmly within a growing global movement towards comprehensive workplace mental health education,” said Donal Scanlan, Head of Mental Health First Aid Ireland. “Through this partnership with the Mental Health Commission of Canada, we can support organizations to build mentally healthy workplaces at every level while complementing our Mental Health First Aid training.”
Leveraging Local Expertise for Maximum Impact
MHFA Ireland is preparing to deliver The Working Mind through a tailored, audience-specific approach. Drawing on their deep expertise in Ireland’s mental health landscape, MHFA Ireland is customizing the program to resonate with Irish workplaces while maintaining the evidence-based integrity that defines The Working Mind. Through a structured, supported implementation process, MHFA Ireland is training facilitators across the country to deliver engaging sessions that authentically reflect the needs and unique contexts of the Irish population, ensuring the program drives meaningful impact at every level.
Meeting a Critical Moment
The workplace mental health landscape is shifting. Organizations increasingly recognize that mental health training is not discretionary; it is a fundamental necessity. Businesses are discovering that investing in robust mental health initiatives benefits employees’ well-being while simultaneously driving organizational productivity and resilience.
“MHFA Ireland’s adoption of The Working Mind is a powerful endorsement of this integrated approach,” said Shane Silver, Vice President MHCC Opening Minds. “We are seeing a growing number of countries recognize that a portfolio approach—combining The Working Mind with Mental Health First Aid—creates a foundational, multi-layered mental health training ecosystem.”
A Shared Vision
This partnership exemplifies a global movement. Countries worldwide are adopting portfolio approaches to workplace mental health training, ensuring organizations can address mental health challenges at every level—from prevention and early intervention to crisis response and recovery.
About The Working Mind
The Working Mind is an evidence-based program designed to reduce stigma, improve mental health literacy, and foster adaptive coping and resilience in workplace settings. It equips leaders and employees alike with practical strategies to support themselves and one another. The program’s flexible design allows for customization and adaptation across sectors and countries. With over 350,000 participants trained globally and counting, The Working Mind is creating the foundation needed to advance mental health in workplaces worldwide.
About Opening Minds
Opening Minds, an initiative of the Mental Health Commission of Canada, is a leading provider of evidence-based training programs that promote mental wellness, reduce stigma, and strengthen psychological health and safety across workplaces and communities.
For more information about The Working Mind and Opening Minds, visit solutions@openingminds.org