Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) – CMHA Edmonton

Attending this two-day course will train you to intervene with an individual who is suicidal.

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) is an intensive, interactive, and practice-dominated course designed to help caregivers recognize and review risk and intervene to prevent the immediate risk of suicide. It is by far the most widely used, acclaimed and researched suicide intervention training workshop in the world. 

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize that caregivers and persons at risk are affected by personal and societal

  attitudes about suicide

• Discuss suicide with a person at risk in a direct manner

• Identify risk alerts and develop a safe plan related to them

• Demonstrate the skills required to intervene with a person at risk of suicide

• List the types of resources available to a person at risk of suicide, including themselves

• Make a commitment to improving community resources and networking

Recognize that suicide prevention is broader than suicide intervention and, includes life promotion and self-care for persons at risk and for caregivers

Audience: Ages 18+. Participants can include but are not limited to: parents and caregivers; natural helpers and advisors; educators and ministers; health practitioners; justice, law enforcers, emergency workers, and community volunteers.

For more information: CMHA-Edmonton ASIST

To register: ASIST Upcoming Sessions

UPCOMING TRAINING DATES:

Our Children Are Sacred - Ben Calf Robe

A youth focused suicide prevention course and resource for adults interacting with individuals at risk for suicide.

This 2-day interactive course is designed to increase awareness around preventative and protective factors that put people at risk for suicide and provide participants with the skills to respond to a person considering suicide.

For more information: Ben Calf Robe – Our Children Are Sacred

To register: Our Children Are Sacred

UPCOMING TRAINING DATES:

Wise Practices for Life Promotion – Thunderbird Partnership Foundation

Free for First Nations community wellness workers, this is a 3-day virtual training that focuses on suicide prevention and life promotion practices through an Indigenous lens.

This course supports First Nations communities interested in building their capacity to connect youth with life and living via implementing life promotion ideas from the wisepractices.ca website. The topics that will be covered include how life promotion contributes to suicide prevention, the strength-based approach to life promotion, land based life promotion practices, the role of First Nations knowledge in community-based life promotion efforts, and the relationship between colonial violence and suicidal behaviours, and how Indigenous Knowledge resists this. The training respects the unique characteristics and priorities of each community and recognizes that First Nations communities have their own teachings and practices related to community wellness.

To register: ThunderbirdPF – Training Calendar

Edmonton Recovery College - CMHA-Edmonton

Courses developed and offered by individuals with lived experience around varying life topics.

The CMHA-Edmonton Recovery College offers a number of courses that are designed to support well-being and connection. All of the courses are created by an individual who has lived experience on the topic they want to educate about, in conjunction with a mental health professional to ensure that the courses are as beneficial as possible for participants. There are many available courses that rotate through over the course of a year. Some of these include Shades of Self-Disclosure; Be Kind, Embrace your Mind (Bite Size: Online); Hope Building 101 (In Person: Prosper Place); Journaling 101 (Bite Size: Online); Building Better Boundaries (Bite Size: Online); How to Feel Better About Yourself (Online: Full Size); etc.

To register: Recovery College Edmonton

Radical Mental Health Peer Support – CMHA-Edmonton Peer College

Learn the basics of being a peer support worker.

Radical Mental Health Peer Support course is a 15-hour course consisting of 6 modules that explore the fundamentals of peer support training and is offered multiple times each year.

To register: CMHA-Edmonton Peer College

School of Peer Support – CMHA-Edmonton Peer College

Build a fully developed skill-set around being a peer worker through both in-class instruction and a practicum component.

The School of Peer Support is a nine-month course that delves into the fundamentals of peer support including such areas as supportive listening, boundaries, system navigation, etc. This course is delivered once each week over 93 hours of in-class training (from mid-October to late June) followed by a 50-hour practicum.

To register: CMHA-Edmonton Peer College

LEAP (Listen-Empathize-Agree-Partner) – CMHA-Edmonton

Learn how to provide support and interact with someone you care about when they are experiencing psychosis.

Do you have a family member experiencing schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or other psychotic illness who is unwilling to accept treatment? If so, then LEAP can help.

LEAP® (Listen-Empathize-Agree-Partner) courses are for family members or caregivers of someone who is experiencing psychosis (hallucinations and/or delusions) and isn’t aware of having a mental illness. This is an evidence based course that aims to improve or repair your relationship and help you get your loved one to recognize the signs of their condition and accept treatment. LEAP was developed by Dr. Xavier Amador, a renowned clinical psychologist with first-hand experience caring for family members with serious mental illness.

The LEAP-certified trainer, a family member like you, was taught by Dr. Amador and has helped hundreds of other Albertans over the past five years. The interactive course includes opportunities to practice new ways to communicate with – and relate to – someone with a psychotic illness. 

Please note that each in-person course will be hosted at Prosper Place, 10455 172 Street NW, Edmonton AB T5S 1K9. If you have questions about LEAP or are wondering if this course is for you, please email ndorcas@cmha-edmonton.ab.ca.

To register: CMHA-Edmonton – LEAP

Mental Health First Aid Virtual – CMHA-Edmonton

Learn to support someone who is struggling with their mental health.

The Mental Health First Aid training was developed to help people provide initial support to someone who may be developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis.

MHFA teaches mental health first aid skills. The course does not train people to be therapists, counselors, or mental health professionals. The philosophy behind MHFA is that mental health crisis, such as suicidal and self-harming actions, may be avoided through early intervention. If a crisis does arise, then members of the public can take action that may reduce the harm that could result.

This 9-hour course opens with a self-directed module (Module 1 – Self Directed) that focuses on the information and strategies that participants will discuss and practice throughout the virtual classroom modules (Modules 2 and 3 – Virtual Classroom). Course participants are required to complete Module 1 before participating in Module 2 and 3.

Participants will receive the “MHFA Participant Reference Guide” that outlines MHFA actions for developing mental health and substance use problems, and mental health and substance use crises.

For more information: CMHA-Edmonton MHFA Standard

To register: MHFA

UPCOMING TRAINING DATES:

Lunch & Learn Series - Mental Health Foundation

An ongoing series on various mental health and addiction topics that provides education and a place for connection.

Our Lunch & Learn Series is dedicated to fostering an open dialogue on mental health and addictions topics. These free online sessions provide the community with valuable knowledge, resources, and support in a warm, welcoming environment. The Lunch & Learn Series provides evidence-based resources that can help people stay up-to-date on best practices, connect with other like minded individuals, and engage in stimulating discussions.

To register: MHF Lunch & Learn

Indigenous Wellness Parenting Program – Ben Calf Robe

A strength-based program that supports parents to build valuable skills and healthy relationships with their children while honouring traditional Indigenous Ways of Knowing.

Parents will enhance their parenting skills in a positive, effective, and enjoyable way while honouring our Indigenous Ways of Knowing. Parents will learn strategies on how to best connect with their child(ren) and have a rewarding parent/child relationship. 

Our program is designed to support trauma informed persons served. We believe in using a strengths-based approach – persons served are led by their own strengths in which determine their outcome. Together we can decolonize our mind, body, and soul through a holistic traditional way.

Some Parenting Topics Include:

• Structure & Routine

• Residential School System

• Impacts of Intergenerational trauma

• Developmental stages of life

• Emotional Regulation

• Medicine Wheel Teachings

• Identity/purpose/culture

• Stress Management

• Communication

• Family Violence

• Grief and Loss

• Self-Esteem/Self-care

• Anger Management

• Conflict Resolution

• Attachment & Bonding

• Relationships & Boundaries

• Parenting Styles

• Behaviour Management

• Traditional Sharing Circles

To register: Ben Calf Robe – Indigenous Wellness Parenting Program

First Nations Mental Wellness Continuum Framework Implementation – Thunderbird Partnership Foundation

Free for First Nations community wellness workers, This 3-day virtual training provides participants with an understanding of the key themes and concepts of the Continuum framework.

This training is designed to guide the design of new or existing programs and services to improve Indigenous wellness outcomes, using culture as foundation.

To register: ThunderbirdPF – Training Calendar

Building Psychological Safety in the Workplace – Imagine Institute for Learning

Creating Safe and Growth-Oriented Workplaces: Learn what makes a workplace psychologically safe and what you can do to create a workplace that empowers people to show up at their best.

Writer Annie Dillard said, “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” Many of us spend a large portion of our day at work. In fact, the average person will spend 90,000 hours at work over a lifetime. It is safe to say that your job greatly impacts your quality of life. In this two-day session, we talk about the role of the internal narrative that accompanies the workloads, relationships and challenges faced within the work environment. The session includes interactive activities, research on psychological safety and a toolkit full of activities and assessments that you can use to move from existing to thriving at work.

Learning Objectives:

• Create a safe environment to learn from the wisdom in the room and use trauma-informed practices to engage in uncomfortable conversations in a safe way.

• Explore the foundations and application of psychological safety as it relates to inclusion, learning, contribution, and challenging environments.

• Employ practical workplace strategies and interventions to prioritize self-advocacy and agile conversations.

• Discuss real-time challenges and opportunities to support a healthy and sustainable work environment.

This training is now available at no cost to Edmonton and area participants by using the discount code Living25.

For more information: Imagine Training Framework PDF

To register: Imagine Institute for Learning Upcoming Sessions

UPCOMING TRAINING DATES:

TIDeS™ Trauma-Informed De-escalation Strategies – Imagine Institute for Learning

Creating Safety and Connection in our Interactions: Learn how to de-escalate conflict and manage high intensity situations while maintaining a trauma-informed approach.

This full-day training is designed to provide participants with critical skills in using trauma-informed de-escalation strategies. Research shows that trauma is highly prevalent in the general public and will likely play a role in interactions with an escalated individual. TIDeS™ not only considers the trauma of the escalated individual but also the person providing support.

Participants will take a deep dive into assessing their own attitudes, boundaries, communication styles, and debriefing strategies. There is a focus on prevention and long-term reduction of crisis situations. Intended for all areas of the community, this training provides a universal trauma-informed approach to de-escalation. 

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the basics of trauma-informed care and the principles of de-escalating a potential crisis.

• Develop skills in assessing attitudes, setting boundaries, and communicating effectively.

• Utilize trauma-informed de-escalation strategies to encourage safe connection.

• Explore the application of strategies in different demographics using case studies.

• Learn strategies for debriefing following a crisis.

This training is now available at no cost to Edmonton and area participants by using the discount code Living25.

For more information: Imagine Training Framework PDF

To register: Imagine Institute for Learning Upcoming Sessions

UPCOMING TRAINING DATES:

Trauma-Focused Skills (TF) Workshop Series – Alberta Health Services

A follow-up course to the e-learning series designed to help build practical and applied knowledge around working with trauma.

The Trauma-Focused Skills Workshop Series consists of five (5) online workshops that are three hours long. Going beyond the knowledge gained within the TIC e-Learning series, the workshops will discuss creating safety, identifying stabilization skills and supporting strategies to enhance health care providers' knowledge and confidence while working with trauma survivors. The content has been organized sequentially to create a seamless, flowing learning experience; the workshops are to be taken in order, and all five must be completed to obtain a certificate of participation. The TIC e-Learning modules are a pre-requisite for the workshop series.

**This workshop series is not a replacement for trauma-specific treatment intervention training but covers the groundwork principles that underlie most trauma-specific interventions. It offers generalized training for health care providers to develop foundational skills in the areas of safety building and stabilization.**

Currently only available to AHS staff.

To register: AHS Trauma Training Initiative

Trauma-Informed Care: Transforming Practice Through Trauma-Informed Principles – Imagine Institute for Learning

Acknowledge the prevalence and impact of trauma and learn how to apply a trauma-informed lens to your work.

Join our two-day training to transform your practice with trauma-informed principles. Gain skills to provide services that prioritize emotional and physical safety, client choice, and collaboration.

Day two focuses on the well-being of caregivers in human services, addressing burnout and empathic strain from exposure to trauma. Explore the journey from vicarious trauma to resilience and post-traumatic growth, emphasizing the strength found in Adversity.

Learning Objectives

• Define trauma and understand the different types of traumas.

• Identify the signs and symptoms of trauma.

• Understand the impacts and effects of trauma.

• Explore the principles of trauma-informed approaches, including Awareness, Safety, Trustworthiness, Choice and Control, Collaboration and Connection, and Strength-Based Approach.

• Explain the elements of vicarious trauma and how they have the potential to create an imbalance in our ability to sustain our work

• Discover the transformation from vicarious trauma response to post-traumatic growth.

• Discuss tools and wisdom related to emotional intelligence and resilience as ways of supporting strength-based relationships and individual and collective growth within the professional setting.

• Explore the Indigenous theory of two-eyed seeing as a mindset and tool that can support healing and understanding related to vicarious trauma.

This training is now available at no cost to Edmonton and area participants by using the discount code Living25.

For more information: Imagine Training Framework PDF

To register: Imagine Institute for Learning Upcoming Sessions

QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) - Imagine Institute for Learning

A 3-hour session designed to share strategies on how to both identify and support someone who may be at risk of suicide.

Imagine Institute for Learning is certified by the QPR Institute to provide suicide prevention training. QPR teaches the warning signs of a suicide crisis, how to offer hope through positive action and ultimately, how to assist in saving a life. The three basic steps for this training workshop include:

Question - the individual's desire or intent regarding suicide;
Persuade - the person to seek and accept help and support;
Refer - the person to the appropriate resources.

This initiative was created to talk openly about suicide and to reduce the stigma that is attached. The plan is to provide better awareness and knowledge to service providers, front-line workers and others so that they are trained to detect signs of suicidality and equipped to refer the appropriate assistance and supports.

This training is now available at no cost to Edmonton and area participants by using the discount code Living25.

For more information: Imagine Training Framework PDF

To register: Imagine Institute for Learning Upcoming Sessions