Peer Support Training Canada – Luminate Wellness

A high quality peer support training developed by Jenn Cusick, the developer of BC’s Peer Support Training curriculum.

Facilitator Jenn Cusick has managed peer support programs since 1999.

This training is inline with Peer Support Canada’s knowledge matrix and Standards of Practice.

With a deep foundation in developing peer support programs across British Columbia, our training is crafted to provide high-quality education grounded in best practices. Our program ensures that your peer support staff are equipped with skills that align with industry standards and foster meaningful, supportive connections within your organization.

Our Peer Support Training is tailored for peer support workers dedicated to serving individuals with mental health and substance use challenges. Peer support staff need skills and tools to support people with a peer lens. Often peer support is embedded in clinical settings, but peer support isn’t clinical–it’s about relationship, connection, and hope. To meet diverse needs, our program is available on a Zoom format. We can do some in-person session, but that will require travel. We can tailor the training to meet your time constraints and budget.

Our training is grounded in:

• The Core Values

• Supporting Self-Determination: The training fosters an environment of self-determination, where each person is honored as the expert on their own life. Participants learn to support without fixing, saving or advising, creating a space of autonomy, connection, and growth.

• Unpacking our Biases: We explore the roots of judgment, noticing and challenging our explicit and implicit biases. Peer supporters learn to navigate these biases, fostering open conversations that respect diverse perspectives.

• Cultural Humility: Our approach to cultural humility emphasizes self-reflection to recognize biases and approach each interaction from a stance of "not knowing."

• Trauma-Informed Communication: We explore what trauma is, and what it means to be trauma-informed, and how to communicate in a way that supports healing and prevents re-traumatization.

• Strength-Based Approach: The training focuses on recognizing and amplifying each person’s strengths and capacities.

• Self-Care for Peer Supporters: Effective peer support requires balance. We cover strategies to protect well-being, prevent burnout, and establish boundaries that allow for genuine, sustainable support.

To register: Luminate - PSTA

Small Talk (Formerly Tattered Teddies) – CMHA-Alberta and the Center for Suicide Prevention

This half-day workshop will examine warning signs in a child and intervention strategies. 

Small Talk is an interactive half-day workshop which examines warning signs in a child and explores intervention strategies through stories and case studies.

This workshop may be offered virtually or in-person.

At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Appreciate how a child’s developmental stage affects their concept of death and suicide;

• Identify protective factors, risk factors and warning signs in children; and

• Confidently transfer care of a child to a caregiver.

Audience

Ages 18+
This workshop provides information and offers practical approaches for those working with children who are working with children who are age 12 or younger and who may be considering suicide.

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

Information provided is appropriate for beginner and intermediate social work practice.

To register: CSP Workshop

Walk With Me – CMHA-Alberta and the Center for Suicide Prevention

Walk With Me is a 1-day process-based workshop exploring the suicide grief cycle in Indigenous communities. 

This workshop is intended for Indigenous caregivers working in Indigenous communities.

The Walk With Me workshop draws heavily on Indigenous culture and tradition as it seeks to take participants through the cycle of suicide grief. Indigenous communities are frequently struck with a series of suicide deaths in a short period of time, each of these deaths adding to the already present burden of grief and loss. Bringing community members together for a day of hope and healing builds understanding and strength. This workshop takes the participants on a journey from the past, to the present and looks to the future; it creates a context for people to examine where they are in the grief cycle and how they can move forward to hope.

This workshop may be offered virtually or in-person.

To register: CSP Workshop

SafeTALK – CMHA-Alberta and the Center for Suicide Prevention

This 3.5 hour workshop alerts someone to warning signs indicating risk of suicide. 

This 3.5 hour workshop equips people to be more alert to someone thinking of suicide and better able to connect them with further help. The workshop emphasizes the importance of recognizing the signs, communicating with the person considering suicide and getting help or resources for the person considering suicide.

This suicide alertness training program can help you:

• identify persons with thoughts of suicide

• connect persons with thoughts of suicide to suicide first aid resources

Audience

Ages 16+
Participants can include but not limited to: parents and caregivers; family and friends; youth aged 16 or older; natural helpers and advisors; educators and ministers; health practitioners; justice, law enforcers, emergency workers, and community volunteers.

Certificate and Accreditation

All participants will receive a certificate at the end of the course.

safeTALK is recognized by the Suicide Prevention Resource Centre (SPRC) in the United States. Please check with your professional association to see if the course qualifies you to receive professional development credits or continuing education credits.

To register: CSP Workshop

River of Life – CMHA-Alberta and the Center for Suicide Prevention

River of Life is an interactive half-day workshop created for individuals working with Indigenous young people 12 and up. 

This interactive workshop discusses strategies to strengthen the protective factors of young people considering suicide and focuses on providing participants with knowledge to competently respond. This workshop may be offered virtually or in-person.

At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Recognize how the role of community and culture supports Indigenous life promotion

• Recognize protective factors, risk factors and warning signs in young people

• Build confidence to competently respond to young people in crisis

• Use principles of safety planning to help a young person develop their own plan for safety

To register: CSP Workshop

Looking Forward – CMHA-Alberta and the Center for Suicide Prevention

This half-day workshop is for people working with youth ages 12 to 24. 

Looking Forward encompasses the developmental, cognitive, and emotional differences found within this age group in presenting strategies to strengthen the protective factors of youth considering suicide. Relevant intervention strategies are explored through videos and case studies. This workshop may be offered virtually or in-person.

At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Identify unique characteristics of youth and their relevance to suicide;

• Compare suicidal and self-harm behaviour in youth;

• Identify protective factors, risk factors, and warning signs in youth; and

• Confidently transfer care of a youth to a caregiver.

To register: CSP Workshop

Little Cub – CMHA-Alberta and the Center for Suicide Prevention

Little Cub is a half-day, discussion-based workshop examining suicide in Indigenous children and communities. 

The Little Cub Workshop draws heavily on storytelling and oral tradition. It begins by recognizing the unique precipitating factors of suicide in Indigenous communities and moves through to identifying risk and protective factors in children 12 years of age and younger. The workshop finishes by empowering participants with knowledge and tools to transfer the care of a child considering suicide to a community-based resource person.

Workshop Topics include:

• Story of Indigenous Experiences

• Conversations and Understanding

• Protective and Risk Factors

• Responding with Hope

• Understanding More

Audience

Ages 18+
This workshop provides information and offers practical approaches for those working with Indigenous children who may be considering suicide. The precipitating factors of suicide are different in Indigenous communities than in the general population.

Information provided is appropriate for beginner and intermediate social work practice.

To register: CSP Workshop

ASIST – CMHA-Alberta and the Center for Suicide Prevention

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

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) is a two-day interactive workshop in suicide first aid. ASIST teaches participants to recognize when someone may have thoughts of suicide and work with them to create a plan that will support their immediate safety. Although ASIST is widely used by healthcare providers, participants don’t need any formal training to attend the workshop—anyone 18 or older can learn and use the ASIST model.

This workshop contains content that may be upsetting for some people, especially those who have lost a loved one to suicide.

Over the course of their two-day workshop, ASIST participants learn to:

• recognize that caregivers and people are affected by personal and societal attitudes about suicide;

• provide life-assisting guidance to a person thinking about suicide in a flexible manner;

• identify what needs to be in a person thinking about suicide’s plan for safety;

• demonstrate the skills required to provide suicide first aid to a person thinking about suicide;

• appreciate the value of improving community resources including the way that they work together; and,

• recognize that suicide prevention is broader than suicide intervention and, includes life promotion and self care for people thinking about suicide and for caregivers.

To register: CSP Workshop

This training is available at no-cost for participants thanks to funding from the City of Edmonton.

How to Talk About Suicide – CMHA-Alberta and the Center for Suicide Prevention

A synchronous, live, 1.5-2 hour webinar about how to talk about suicide with someone you're worried about. 

How to talk about suicide: A conversation guide is a virtual, 1.5-2 hour synchronous small group training. This webinar explores common myths and facts around suicide, who is impacted and why, as well as steps to begin a conversation about suicide. Learning Objectives

This webinar supports participants in:

• Exploring common myths and facts about suicide

• Building awareness of how and why people are impacted

• Understanding dynamics of protective and risk factors

• Learning a 4-step model for starting a conversation about suicide through case studies and discussion

• Identifying community resources for further help

To register: CSP Workshop

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

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

Indigenous Awareness Training – Ben Calf Robe

Awareness training focused on Indigenous culture before and after colonization, residential schools, and the history of Indigenous peoples in Alberta and western Canada. Local

In this training, participants will engage on topics such as:

• Knowledge of pre and post European Contact

• Impact of Residential Schools

• Spiritual Practices

• Significance, Symbolism, and Application of the Medicine Wheel

• Treaties/ Bill C-31

• The history of Indigenous Peoples in Alberta and in Western Provinces

An Indigenous Awareness Certificate will be presented upon completing the course.

There are numerous amenities within walking distance for participants to have lunch at.

The cost of the course is $100.00

To register please call 780-477-6648

To view the training page, click here: Ben Calf Robe - IAT

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.

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

Métis People and Health Course - First Nations, Inuit, & Métis Program

A course for anyone interested in learning more about Métis people and health.

This course was developed in the spirit of collaboration and partnership between the Métis Nation of Alberta (MNA) and the SE Health First Nations, Inuit and Métis Program. Funding for this course was provided by the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer.  It is our collective hope that you will find the learnings from this course useful in your work and interactions with Métis people.

The Métis People and Health course is available publicly to all interested learners at no cost.  It has been developed based upon one module in a larger course called Métis Cancer Care, also developed with the MNA.  This larger course is available to all health care providers working with Métis, First Nations or Inuit people through our online learning platform @YourSide Colleague

The Métis People and Health course is focused on Métis people in Alberta and will help you to better understand the following:

• Métis as a distinct culture and identity

• Métis in terms of historical and intergenerational trauma and social determinants of health

• Importance of using culturally safe strategies in talking with Métis clients

• Recognize the structure of the Métis Nation of Alberta and its role in supporting health and wellness

• Recognizing the health status of Métis as distinct from other Indigenous groups

Audience:

• This course is intended for anyone interested in learning more about Métis people and health.

• It may be particularly useful for Nurses (LPNs, RPNs, RNs, NPs) working in or with Métis people in Alberta and across Canada,   

• It will also be useful to new and seasoned nurses looking to support their professional development. As well as nursing students nearing graduation and interested in working in Métis people.

• It is recommended for health professionals to take the full Metis Cancer Course on @YourSide Colleague if they are looking to inform their work with Métis in a cancer context including the challenges experienced in by Métis people during their cancer journey.

This is a self-directed learning course  approximately 1 hour in length on our LMS system.

Health Care Providers:  Access an account on @YourSide Colleague at no cost. Visit https://fnim.learn.sehc.com/login and click the sign-up link.

To register: People and Health

Skills for Safer Living – CMHA-Alberta and the Center for Suicide Prevention

Skills for Safer Living (SfSL) is a four-week group program for youth ages 12-24 who have suicide ideation and their caregivers. 

Skills for Safer Living (SfSL) is a four-week psycho-educational group for youth aged 12-24 who have past or current experiences of suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts. A concurrent group is available for the youth’s caregiver(s) to equip them with the knowledge and skills to support youth in navigating their suicidal thoughts.

SfSL aims to help participants build basic language, skills, and concepts to better understand thoughts about suicide while learning strategies to mitigate them and stay as safe as possible.

The program intends to provide safe and supportive spaces for youth and their caregivers to learn from each others’ similar experiences of a situation that can be isolating and scary, but not hopeless. This project is being funded by the Government of Alberta and FCSS Calgary.

Note: Skills for Safer Living sessions are currently paused and will resume in January 2025.

If you are interested in joining a group, fill in the Expression of Interest form.

Audience

Youth:

• Anyone aged 12-24 with current or past experiences of suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts

• Interested in understanding thoughts and feelings that lead to thinking about suicide and how to make safer choices

Caregivers: Anyone aged 18+ who supports youth with experiences of suicide

Groups run in 4-week cycles.

• Participants meet weekly for a 90-minute session.

• Participants are split into two groups: one group for youth and one group for their caregiver(s).

• Youth and their caregiver(s) do not both need to participate in the program, but it is highly recommended.

• Depending on registrants, youth groups will be grouped based on age and experience of suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts.

Training Page: CSP Workshop

Red Road Healing Society

Red Road Healing Society Offers a number of courses and sessions for Indigenous community members, please contact them for more information. See some of the available offerings below: 

• Addiction Services

• Adolescent Programs

• Akicita Youth Program

• Annual Events

• Baby Bonding 

• Baby, Think It Over

• Career Development

• Children’s Programs

• Collective Kitchens

• Counseling 

• Crafts

• Culture Night

• Educational Services

• Family Programs

• Family Violence

• Workshops

• Grandparents Circle

• Grieving Workshops

• Healing Circles

• Health Services

• Home Support

• Housing Program

• Legal Services

• Literacy

• Longhouse Family Night

• Outreach 

• Parenting

• Prenatal Workshops

• Prevention Programs

• Referral

• Rhyming

• Seasonal Events 

• School Outreach

• Social Services

• Soup and Bannock

• Speakers

• Storytelling

• Substance Prevention

• Summer Kids Camp

• Summer Workshops

• Survivor Workshops

• Tipi-Making

• Tobacco Prevention

• 12 Step Work

To register: Red Road Healing Society - Contact

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

This training is available at no-cost for participants thanks to funding from the City of Edmonton.

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

This training is available at no-cost for participants thanks to funding from the City of Edmonton.

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.

For more information or to register for a course or elective please contact Christine Ellery at cellery@cmha-edmonton.ab.ca