Training and Education

This training and education hub was created to help Edmontonians come together to support one another in living happier, more meaningful lives. Whether you're caring for family, friends, coworkers, or even strangers, we all play a role in looking out for each other.

These courses are designed to support your growth—whether you're a peer, a service provider, or someone just trying to help. Topics include mental health and addictions, suicide prevention, peer support, poverty and housing, parenting, and more. All trainings emphasize approaches that are fair, trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, and rooted in community values. See a calendar view of upcoming locally offered training →

 

Food and Mood: Improving Mental Health Through Diet and Nutrition – Deakin University

Explore the relationship between nutrition and brain health, why it matters, and how to work towards positive food changes.

Explore the relationship between nutrition and brain health, why it matters, and how to work towards positive food changes.

Poor diet and poor mental health are the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. We now know that diet quality is a modifiable factor that is linked to mental and brain health across all stages of our lives.

We will explore how our daily diets may affect our mental and brain health, including the role of our immune system and gut microbiome.

The course will provide research evidence, practical examples, skills development, and collaboration on dietary intake assessment, strategies and resource sharing for dietary change.

 

To register: FutureLearn Platform – Food and Mood

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Live Training, National Paid Tanya Camp Live Training, National Paid Tanya Camp

Sharpening the Saw: Focusing on Men’s Health and Wellness Course - First Nations, Inuit, & Métis Program

This course is dedicated to addressing the often-overlooked issues surrounding men’s overall wellness.

This course is dedicated to addressing the often-overlooked issues surrounding men’s overall wellness.

This session aims to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of the unique wellness challenges faced by men, the barriers to seeking help, and effective strategies for support and intervention and how to implement effective strategies in your community. This is a virtual program provided in one session (2.5 hours).

Upon program completion, learners will have gained knowledge related to:

  • The current state of men’s holistic wellness, including statistics and common issues. How mental illness may manifest in men compared to other genders.

  • Examining how societal expectations and cultural norms impact men’s overall health and their willingness to seek help.

  • Identifying prevalent mental health conditions among men, including depression, anxiety, and substance abuse.

  • Understanding the obstacles that prevent men from seeking wellness support, such as stigma and gender stereotypes.

  • Learning how to engage in open and supportive conversations about holistic wellness with men.

  • Evidence-based practices for supporting men’s mental health, including therapeutic approaches, peer support, and starting your own community programs addressing men’s wellness.

  • Normalizing Conversations: making it a regular part of conversations to reduce stigma.

 

Audience:

General public, Health and social service providers, mental health professionals, educators, community leaders, and anyone interested in understanding and supporting men’s mental health

 

Course Instructors are highly experienced facilitators with knowledge of Indigenous mental wellness, cultural relevance, and trauma-informed care.

This program can be delivered in-person upon request.

To register: Sharpening the Saw

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Self-Paced Training, National Paid Tanya Camp Self-Paced Training, National Paid Tanya Camp

Developing Emotional Resiliency and Self-Care - Charity Village

In this 15-hour course, you will explore resiliency and recognize the “7 C’s” of resiliency and the four pillars of self-leadership.

In this 15-hour course, you will explore resiliency and recognize the “7 C’s” of resiliency and the four pillars of self-leadership.

You will also learn how to apply principles of self-care to avoid burnout and fatigue.

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • Describe resiliency

  • Recognize the 7 C’s of resiliency

  • Explain self-leadership

  • Identify the 4 pillars of self-leadership

  • Apply the principles of self-care

  • Identify symptoms of burnout

  • Recognize career fatigue

  • Develop strategies to start a conversation in the workplace to reduce stress

To register: Charity Village - DERSC

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Receiving Feedback with Confidence - Charity Village

Learn how to receive feedback well.

Learn how to receive feedback well.

Receiving feedback with confidence and grace can be a challenge, especially when the feedback is constructive. Many of us have a natural tendency to get defensive, justify, explain or even deny the validity of the feedback—even if we need it. Regardless of its validity, the ability to hear, assess and use feedback from others in your workplace is a valuable skill that leads to self-improvement and success.

By the end of this course, you will have learned:

  • Why feedback from others is so valuable to receive

  • How to avoid feedback “traps” and keep an open mind

  • How to respond effectively to misguided feedback

  • How to listen to, assess, integrate and use feedback to your advantage in the workplace

To register: Charity Village - RFC

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Best Practices for Stress Management and Mindfulness at Work - Charity Village

In this informative, practical course, you will come to understand yourself better. You’ll learn to recognize the stressors that impact your life and how to use mindfulness best practices to lead a more balanced and contented existence.

In this informative, practical course, you will come to understand yourself better. You’ll learn to recognize the stressors that impact your life and how to use mindfulness best practices to lead a more balanced and contented existence.

While we may not be able to change many of the situations in our lives, we can control how we perceive, experience and manage them.

By the end of this course, it will have taught you to:

  • Understand stress and its impact on you and your coworkers

  • Use mindfulness to noticeably reduce stress in your everyday work life

  • Slow down and experience the steps of mindfulness meditation as needed

To register: Charity Village - BPSMMW

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Live Training, Local Free/Low-Cost Tanya Camp Live Training, Local Free/Low-Cost Tanya Camp

Engagement Strategies Towards Ending Workplace Sexual Harassment - Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services

Explore what constitutes workplace sexual harassment and strategies to prevent it.

Explore what constitutes workplace sexual harassment and strategies to prevent it. Local

This is a three hour, interactive, dynamic, online learning opportunity. 

Research informed and using best practices for adult online learning, this workshop will explore:

What sexual harassment is (and isn’t); What it costs us, interpersonally and collectively; and,
How to help stop sexual harassment as someone who:

  • witnesses someone sexually harassing others,

  • is told about someone else’s sexual harassment,

  • is told they have done something that might amount to sexual harassment, and,

  • is in a position of leadership and responsible for a safe and healthy workplace.

To register: AASAS - ESTEWSH

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Self-Care Essentials for Health and Well-Being – Homelessness Learning Hub

Essential self-care training for housing, support and community workers in the homelessness sector.

Essential self-care training for housing, support and community workers in the homelessness sector.

Topics include mindfulness, stress relief, self-compassion, habits, boundaries and life satisfaction. Those who care for others, often give little attention to care for themselves. This training is about the importance of self-care and how to get started with a personalized self-care practice. You will learn a variety of techniques and strategies for overall well-being. The training starts with self-care for physical health: sleep, nutrition, activity and stress relief. Other lessons focus on emotional and psychological well-being. There are many opportunities to learn new strategies and practice techniques with hands-on activities. The training includes resources to support continued learning and practice activities for relaxation, deep breathing, self-compassion, healthy boundaries and resilience. Whether you are just getting started or you want to re-invigorate your self-care routine, this training will give you the tools you need. 

What you’ll learn:

  • Explore common ideas about self-care 

  • Set personalized goals for self-care 

  • Explore the benefit of improving self-awareness 

  • Establish and maintain healthy habits 

  • Set boundaries for healthy relationships 

  • Use techniques to increase self-compassion 

  • Learn ways to increase resilience and life satisfaction

 

To register: Homelessness Learning Hub - SCEHWB

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Harm Reduction for the Homelessness Sector – Homelessness Learning Hub

Self-paced training on harm reduction and substance use for service providers in the housing and homelessness sector.

Self-paced training on harm reduction and substance use for service providers in the housing and homelessness sector.

This training explores harm reduction as an evidence-based approach to minimizing the risks associated with substance use. Harm reduction involves a broad range of strategies applicable in the housing and homeless-serving sectors. This course highlights the importance of addressing stigma and unconscious bias related to substance use and homelessness. Harm reduction plays a crucial role in strategies to end homelessness.

Included in the Training:

  • Goals and benefits of harm reduction

  • Principles of harm reduction

  • Policies and practices for emergency shelters and housing programs

  • Equity-based approaches for working with individuals who use substances and those experiencing homelessness

  • Challenges in implementing harm reduction

While harm reduction is often associated with specific interventions like needle exchange and supervised consumption, it encompasses many practical strategies applicable across various roles. This training is designed to support frontline service providers in the homeless-serving sector by equipping them with knowledge and practical resources. It prepares staff to work with individuals who use substances through a rights-based and equity-oriented approach, offering practical resources, strategies, and techniques suitable for outreach, shelters, and housing programs.

To register: Homelessness Learning Hub – HRHS

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Harm Reduction and Naloxone Access Course - First Nations, Inuit, & Métis Program

A one hour session that discusses the opioid epidemic as it relates to Indigenous communities, as well as how to access and safely use naloxone.

A one hour session that discusses the opioid epidemic as it relates to Indigenous communities, as well as how to access and safely use naloxone.

The opioid crisis in Indigenous communities across Canada is a complex and urgent issue that requires comprehensive and culturally relevant solutions. Addressing this crisis involves acknowledging historical injustices, improving access to healthcare, and supporting community-driven initiatives.

Communities accessing naloxone has been identified as a barrier that needs to be addressed. Health directors, health and social professionals, and leaders working in or supporting various services and programs must be educated on obtaining naloxone to make it available to community members. This is a virtual program provided in one session (1 hour). These webinars are sponsored by Emergent BioSolutions, the manufacturer of Naloxone nasal spray.

Upon program completion, learners will have gained knowledge related to:

  • Understand the opioid crises in Canada and Indigenous communities.

  • Review of harm reduction and safe use of naloxone.

  • How to communicate and support staff and community members in accessing naloxone. 

Audience:

  • Health Directors

  • Health and social professional and leaders working in or supporting various community services and programs

  • Provinces included are Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland, and Labrador. 

This program can be delivered in-person upon request.

To register: Naloxone Course

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Brain Story Certification – Alberta Family Wellness Initiative

A comprehensive online course that provides knowledge around early brain development and how stress and trauma experienced in early life contribute to changes in the brain that can lead to physical and mental health issues later on.

A comprehensive online course that provides knowledge around early brain development and how stress and trauma experienced in early life contribute to changes in the brain that can lead to physical and mental health issues later on.

Lifelong health is determined by more than just our genes: experiences at sensitive periods of development change the brain in ways that increase or decrease risk for later physical and mental illness, including addiction. That finding is the premise of the Brain Story, which puts scientific concepts into a narrative that is salient to both expert and non-expert audiences. The Brain Story synthesizes decades of research and reflects a body of knowledge that experts agree is useful for policy-makers and citizens to understand.

The Alberta Family Wellness Initiative (AFWI) has developed an online course to make Brain Story science available to professionals and the public. Brain Story Certification is designed for those seeking a deeper understanding of brain development and its consequences for lifelong health. The course is also designed for professionals seeking certification in a wide range of fields. 

To register: Alberta Family Wellness Initiative- Training

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Psychological First Aid – Johns Hopkins University

Learn to provide psychological first aid to people in an emergency by employing the RAPID model: Reflective listening, Assessment of needs, Prioritization, Intervention, and Disposition.

Learn to provide psychological first aid to people in an emergency by employing the RAPID model: Reflective listening, Assessment of needs, Prioritization, Intervention, and Disposition.

Utilizing the RAPID model (Reflective listening, Assessment of needs, Prioritization, Intervention, and Disposition), this specialized course provides perspectives on injuries and trauma that are beyond those physical in nature. The RAPID model is readily applicable to public health settings, the workplace, the military, faith-based organizations, mass disaster venues, and even the demands of more commonplace critical events, e.g., dealing with the psychological aftermath of accidents, robberies, suicide, homicide, or community violence. In addition, the RAPID model has been found effective in promoting personal and community resilience. Participants will increase their abilities to: - Discuss key concepts related to PFA - Listen reflectively - Differentiate benign, non-incapacitating psychological/ behavioral crisis reactions from more severe, potentially incapacitating, crisis reactions - Prioritize (triage) psychological/ behavioral crisis reactions - Mitigate acute distress and dysfunction, as appropriate - Recognize when to facilitate access to further mental health support - Practice self-care

To register: Coursera – JHU – PFA

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Provincial Addiction & Mental Health Curricula & Experiential Skills (PACES) – Alberta Health Services

Learn how to support individuals struggling with addictions, mental health, and concurrent disorders.

Learn how to support individuals struggling with addictions, mental health, and concurrent disorders.

The Provincial Addiction & Mental Health Curricula & Experiential Skills (PACES) Learning Pathway advances learners from a basic understanding to a mastery of the competencies required to assess, treat, and support recovery from addictions, mental health or concurrent disorders.

PACES provides accessible, self-paced, and personalized addiction and mental health education for all skill levels through e-learning modules, educational videos, simulated clinical scenarios, and virtual skill-building sessions.

The learning pathway consists of four learning phases, allowing individuals to develop their skills based on their unique needs.

Read The Provincial Addiction and Mental Health Curricula & Experiential Skills Learning Pathway.

PACES consists of both Accredited Self-Assessment Learning and Simulation Activities (Section 3) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and approved by the University of Calgary Office of Continuing Medical Education (CME) and Professional Development. Upon completion of each activity, the learner can request a CME certificate of participation. In addition, the PACES Beginning, Developing, and Advancing phases are duly accredited by the Canadian Addiction Counsellors Certification Federation.

To register: AHS - PACES

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Alberta Opioid Dependency Treatment Virtual Training (ODT) – Alberta Health Services

Learn how to support those struggling with opioid dependencies, from a healthcare provider perspective.

Learn how to support those struggling with opioid dependencies, from a healthcare provider perspective.

The Alberta Opioid Dependency Treatment (ODT) Virtual Training Program is a component of broader efforts to respond to the drug poisoning crisis in Alberta by improving the capacity of prescribers and allied health care providers involved in treating opioid use disorder.

Read The Alberta ODT Virtual Training Program Course Overview for module learning objectives and durations.

The training program is an Accredited Simulation Activity (Section 3) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and is approved by the University of Calgary Office of Continuing Medical Education and Professional Development.

To register: AHS – ODT Virtual

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The Science of Well-Being for Teens – Yale

A course for youth on how to be happy, less stressed, and thrive during their youth and into adulthood.

A course for youth on how to be happy, less stressed, and thrive during their youth and into adulthood.

A recent survey found that 37% of teens say they have poor mental health. This 6-week course aims to curb this mental health crisis by bringing together the best insights from Dr. Laurie Santos’ popular Yale course Psychology and the Good Life. In this course, you will explore what the field of psychology teaches us about how to be happier, how to feel less stressed, and how to thrive in high school and beyond. The lessons along with short weekly ‘happiness homework’ assignments will ultimately prepare you to put these scientific findings into practice. The ultimate goal is for you to feel better and build healthier habits. Parents, teachers, and other professionals supporting teenagers may also find the course beneficial.

To register: Coursera – Yale TSWBT

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Mindfulness and Well-being Specialization – RICE University

A 3 course series on the benefits of mindfulness to educate and provide moments for practice and self-reflection.

A 3 course series on the benefits of mindfulness to educate and provide moments for practice and self-reflection.

The goal of the specialization is to showcase the ways in which the practice of mindfulness is an effective means of enhancing and maintaining optimal health and overall well-being that can be implemented in every aspect of daily living. The intention of the Specialization is to supply learners with practical tools to support thriving in life. Each course will feature mindfulness practices, directions for implementation and application, experiential exercises and reflection opportunities.

 

Applied Learning Project

Each week, there will be lectures to watch, discussions to contribute to, and short quizzes to assess your learning. You will also have the opportunity to practice mindfulness yourself, and you will find different ways to try it out when you complete the weekly challenges/experiences.

To register: Coursera – RICE - MWBS

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Music for Wellness – Berklee College of Music

Learn how music can be a valuable tool in supporting your well-being.

Learn how music can be a valuable tool in supporting your well-being.

You love music. You listen to music all the time. Maybe you sing, play an instrument, or compose music. You don’t need to have musical talent to use music to enhance your well being, and even your health.

Learn simple techniques to enrich your mind, body, and spirit through music. The methods can be applied in your daily life, particularly when you are feeling down or stressed out. Developed by a board-certified music therapist and a vocalist/pianist/composer/recording artist specializing in Indian music, these strategies combine science with the wisdom of Eastern philosophy. In the course, discover how to unlock your creativity. You will learn not only how to listen to music in a new way, but also how to listen to the impact that music has on you. You will find out how to care for yourself by practicing coping techniques that are supported by music that is special to you.

To register: Coursera – Berklee MW

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