GNS: Mental Health First Aid Responders

Eleven GYPSD staff members from Harry Collinge High School, The Learning Connection, and Crescent Valley School recently received their  Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) certification, facilitated by Trevor Haas with Alberta Health Services.

The MHFA training course provides participants with the awareness and information they need to support a person who may be experiencing a decline in their mental well-being or a mental health crisis, according to the Mental Health Commission of Canada. Positive mental health means finding balance in all parts of one’s life: social, physical, spiritual, emotional, financial, and mental. When this balance is upset or changed, it can often be a challenge to find that healthy balance again.

Staff attained tools to help them recognize signs that a person may be experiencing a decline in their mental well-being or a mental health crisis. They also were guided in how to have conversations with others that encourage a person to: 

• Talk about declines in their mental well-being

• Discuss professional and other supports that could help with recovery to improve mental well-being

• Reach out to these supports

• Assist in a mental health or substance use crisis

• Use MHFA actions to maintain one’s own mental well-being

Mental health is everyone's responsibility; the Division encourages all adults to take the time to get informed and become empowered through education.