Mental Health Wilderness First Aid
​Open-Enrollment Course Outline
MHWFA is an evidence-based, interactive program designed to support anyone who lives, works, or plays in remote areas or rural communities to build powerful, accessible mental health support skills.  
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​Just about anyone can join an open-enrollment MHWFA course.  Courses may be offered online and/or in-person.
Mental Health Wilderness First Aid
​Open-Enrollment Courses - 2023

Basic "101" course (14 hours)

Start here!  The Basic course offers a "101" level of Mental Health Wilderness First Aid training, including powerful tools to recognize, assess, and support someone experiencing a mental health challenge in remote areas.  Topics include anxiety, panic attack, and general stress: how the nervous system responds under stress, regulation of the nervous system, psychoeducation, solution-focused conversation, and safety/support planning.  

Includes: 12h classroom time, 2h self-directed homework time.

January 2023 - Saturdays
​online
​BASIC "101" (14H)
January 21 & 28, 2023
  • 8am-3pm Pacific Time
  • Online course (Zoom)​
  • Register now to guarantee 2022 pricing ($245+GST)
  • Sliding scale available
February 2023 - Thursdays
​online
​BASIC "101" (14H)
February 2, 9, 16, & 23, 2023
  • 5-8pm Pacific Time
  • Online course (Zoom)​
  • Register now to guarantee 2022 pricing ($245+GST)
  • Sliding scale available
March 2023 - Saturdays
​online
​BASIC "101" (14H)
March 4 & 11, 2023
  • 8am-3pm Pacific Time
  • Online course (Zoom)​
  • Register now to guarantee 2022 pricing ($245+GST)
  • Sliding scale available
April 2023 - Tuesdays
​online
​BASIC "101" (14H)
April 4, 11, 18, & 25, 2023
  • 5-8pm Pacific Time
  • Online course (Zoom)​
  • Register now to guarantee 2022 pricing ($245+GST)
  • Sliding scale available

STANDARD COURSE (28 HOURS)

Expand on your Basic certification with an Upgrade to Standard course, to achieve your full 28h Standard certification!  This includes additional tools and in-depth discussion led by expert, field-experienced mental health counsellors in a small cohort.  Topics include depression & mood disorders, trauma / PTSD, grief & loss, uncooperative clients, psychosis, self-injury, and suicidal ideation.

Includes: 12h classroom time, 2h self-directed homework time.

In-person Standard courses may be offered as 24 hours all at once.
Online Standard courses are composed of the Basic course (14h) plus the "Upgrade from Basic to Standard" course (14h).
March 2023 - Saturdays
​ONLINE 
​upgrade from Basic TO STANDARD (14H)
UPGRADE to STANDARD course 
(for those who have previously completed a BASIC course)
​​
March 18 & 25, 2023
  • 8am-3pm Pacific Time
  • Online course​ (Zoom)
  • Register now to guarantee 2022 pricing ($245+GST)
  • Sliding scale available
A short pre-course phone or Zoom chat about the course is an invitation for registration for all Standard course participants.
May 2023 - Saturdays
​ONLINE 
​upgrade from Basic TO STANDARD (14H)
UPGRADE to STANDARD course 
(for those who have previously completed a BASIC course)
​​
May 6 & 13, 2022
  • 8am-3:30pm Pacific Time
  • Online course​ (Zoom)
  • $245+GST, sliding scale available
A short pre-course phone or Zoom chat about the course is an invitation for registration for all Standard course participants.

Register

Two steps to register: 
  1. Submit course registration form.                     
  2. Submit payment below.
An email confirmation will be sent to you with a link to the course portal page - be sure to visit it to complete the pre-course brief assignment and reading, and ensure you have tested out your Zoom before your online course begins.
course Policies - read me
Virtual (Zoom) courses - expectations & agreements
  • 100% course attendance and completion of the post-course quiz and assignment are required to receive a course certificate.
  • Classes are hosted over Zoom (an online videoconference platform).  A computer with microphone, speakers, and webcam is necessary.  Smaller screens such as smartphones are not recommended for the class.  Zoom is a user-friendly platform and you do not need much special stuff to attend – however, you should practice the basics with a friend before your first class: how to accept a Zoom invitation, mute yourself, switch from Speaker to Gallery view, etc. 
  • Please come rested and bring a notebook, pen or pencil, have hot drinks and snacks readily available for yourself. 
  • Please let us know ahead of time if you may be late for class or miss a class (email info@mentalhealthwildernessfirstaid.ca).  If you miss a class, you are still encouraged to attend the next class; however, 100% attendance is required to receive a course completion certificate.  It may be possible to "catch up" your missed attendance by joining another course for the cost of an administration fee -- see "Cancellation Policies" below.
  • Please keep your video on throughout the course (unless you are having bandwidth issues).  Communicate with the instructor if you would like extra support or to chat privately, or are needing to leave early for any reason – so we don’t worry about you.
  • For privacy and course integrity reasons, please do not record audio, video, or take screen shots of MHWFA classes unless invited to do so.  We may record some classes for use in future class or online materials.  The instructor will alert the class anytime recordings or photos may be taken during a class, and you will be able to opt-out if you wish.  
  • Confidentiality for students' participation is essential during this course.  Please respect others' privacy and do not share things others have shared outside the course.  The legal limits to confidentiality are, of course, a serious concern about risk of harm to oneself, to someone else, or to a child in need of protection.
  • Discussion of mental health issues and scenarios can be challenging as well as empowering for learners.  Students acknowledge that the material covered in the course may include challenging or triggering topics, facts, or opinions, and attest that they are mentally and emotionally capable of participating in a class on mental health topics at this time.  Students agree to take responsibility for accessing support as needed throughout and after the course.  Links to support resources are provided on the Resources page and on the Course Portal page.
  • Please bring one or more simple physical distraction tools to the course.  This means anything simple that allows your hands to be physically “busy” while listening or talking.  Play-doh, simple colouring materials, knitting, or fidget toys are all good options – please have one at your desk as you attend class.  While this may sound unusual, it is evidenced to assist the brain to process emotional material.
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Cancellation policies

  • 30+ days before course start: a full refund will be granted upon request.
  • 15+ days before course start: a full refund, less a $50 administration fee, may be granted upon request.  Course fees may also be transferred to another course, less a $50 administration fee.
  • 0-14 days before course start: Course fees are not refundable.  In the event of illness or emergency, registration may be transferred to another course, less a $50 administration fee.
  • After course start:  Students needing to miss one or more online classes after a course has started: You are certainly encouraged to continue to attend class the following weeks; however, 100% attendance is required for a course completion certificate.  If you would still like a course completion certificate: For a $50 administration fee, you may "catch up" your missed attendance by attending one or more classes from another MHWFA course in the next 12 months.  ​
  • If MHWFA cancels a course (e.g. instructor illness or instructor technical issues), students will receive the option of a rescheduled course or a full refund.  If one individual class is cancelled from a multi-class course, students will receive the option of attending a makeup or rescheduled class, or receiving a pro-rated refund for the cancelled portion (note that students must have 100% attendance in course modules to receive a course completion certificate).
1. registration form
    We will contact you with a confirmation!  Please submit this form, then submit payment below to complete your registration.  
2. payment
  • ​MHWFA Basic (12h) course cost:
    $245.00 CAD + GST
  • MHWFA "Upgrade to Standard" (12h) course cost:
    $245.00 CAD + GST​
  • MHWFA "Standard" (24h) course cost:
    $490.00 CAD + GST
  • Course manual:
    ​$35.00 CAD + GST + shipping

​Sliding scale discount: up to 35% off course fees available to students / low-income earners.   Click the course cost windows when paying, below, to access sliding scale options.  Scholarships may also be available - see below.
Scholarships
Accessibility of mental health skills is one of our core values.  If the cost of a MHWFA course even with the sliding scale is a barrier to you, email info@mentalhealthwildernessfirstaid.ca and tell us about your situation.  A number of partial scholarships is available each year. 
Order the course manual! (Updated v.1.7 available).
Manuals are optional (recommended) for a MHWFA course.  Powerpoint slides are not made available.
Course registration fees
Basic Course $245 + GST
Upgrade to Standard course $245 + GST
Standard course $490 + GST (select "quantity: 2" at checkout)

Sliding scale available
Course Manual
Please read carefully and select delivery option below. All shipping options will include a tracking number.
Ordering in bulk? Contact us to inquire about custom shipping charges.

Pick up your manual in-person from our locations in Courtenay, B.C., or Maple Ridge, B.C., OR from an in-person class
NO SHIPPING; pick up only
$35 plus GST


Ship your manual to a Canadian address ($35 + $14 shipping)
$49 plus GST


Ship your manual to a US or International address ($35 + $24 shipping)
$59 plus GST
Mental Health Wilderness First Aid
Daye Hagel, M.A., C.C.C.
Courtenay, B.C.
We do not require personal medical information from our students, volunteers,
staff, or contractors as a condition of providing services.