Mental Health First Aid Essentials (November 2026)

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Audience: All faculty and staff at UBC Vancouver and Okanagan.

Description:

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training provides the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to support a person who may be experiencing a decline in their mental well-being, a mental health or substance use crisis until professional help is available. The practical skills of MHFA help you develop the confidence and peace of mind knowing you can support those around you, and your ability to self-care and prioritize your well-being while supporting others. Designed to be accessible and applicable across many settings, Essentials offers a strong foundation in MHFA principles. Participants will:

Explore definitions of mental health, the impact of stigma, and learn to recognize mental health on a continuum.
Be introduced to the ALGES framework a step-by-step guide for offering support during mental health challenges, focusing on empathy, communication, and appropriate resources.
Use real-life scenarios, to practice applying ALGES to support people experiencing early signs of mental health decline.
Develop effective interaction skills, including effective listening, non-judgmental communication skills, and application of reassurance and sharing of information.
Explain recovery-oriented approaches to providing support.

Important Notes:

Space is limited and there is a minimum number of participants required to run the course. Attendance in both sessions is required. Please ensure that you can attend. If you have registered and can no longer attend, please drop the course as soon as you are able to allow others to register.

Participants will not be admitted if they join after the first 15 minutes of the course has passed.

What to expect during the training:

This is a high engagement training that includes group discussions and breakout rooms. Participation also includes interactions with the group and facilitators via Zoom chat and through PowerPoint annotations.
For participant and facilitator safety, we encourage participants to have your cameras on during the training when possible.

Dates and time:

Day 1: Wednesday, November 25, 2026 at 9 am – 12:30 pm

Day 2: Thursday, November 26, 2026 at 9 am – 12:30 pm

Location: Zoom. (Once you register for the course, you will be directed to the course Canvas page where you can find the Zoom link and download the calendar invite.)

Facilitator:

Amanda Swoboda (she/her), Wellbeing Specialist, Workplace Health and Wellbeing, HR, UBC Okanagan

If you have questions, please email Lauren Lee at lauren.lee@ubc.ca.

Keywords: VRPTGY, ONCS, OE, WGIS, WGLS, INSWE, LSWG

Full course description