Mental Health Wilderness First Aid

Open-Enrollment Courses

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MHWFA - Course Information & Outline (PDF)

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Mental Health Wilderness First Aid
​Upcoming Open-Enrollment Courses
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Basic "101"
​Mental Health Wilderness First Aid
​(16 hour course)

Start here! 

​The Basic course offers a solid "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, thought challenging, voluntary trigger exposure, and field support planning.  

Includes: 12h classroom time, 4h self-directed homework time.

Basic course dates

June 2025 - evenings
​ONLINE 
​Basic "101" (16H)
Wednesday June 11, Monday June 16, Wednesday June 18, & Thursday June 19, 2025
  • 5pm-8pm Pacific Time (8pm-11pm Eastern)
  • Online course​ (Zoom)
  • $325+GST (CAD $)
  • Sliding scale available.
  • Register at the bottom of this page.
July 2025 - "POwer Weekend"
​ONLINE 
​Basic "101" (16H)
Saturday & Sunday, July 12 & 13 2025
  • 8am-3pm Pacific Time (11am-6pm Eastern)
  • Online course​ (Zoom)
  • $325+GST (CAD $)
  • Sliding scale available.
  • Register at the bottom of this page.
September 2025 - Tues & Thurs evenings
​ONLINE 
​Basic "101" (16H)
Tuesdays & Thursdays, September 16, 18, 23, & 25, 2025
  • 5pm-8pm Pacific Time (8pm-11pm Eastern)
  • Online course​ (Zoom)
  • $325+GST (CAD $)
  • Sliding scale available.
  • Register at the bottom of this page.
October 2025 - Saturdays
​ONLINE 
​Basic "101" (16H)
Saturdays, October 4 & 11, 2025
  • 8am-3pm Pacific Time (11am-6pm Eastern)
  • Online course​ (Zoom)
  • $325+GST (CAD $)
  • Sliding scale available.
  • Register at the bottom of this page.
November 2025 - wednesday evenings
​ONLINE 
​Basic "101" (16H)
Wednesdays, November 5, 12, 19, & 26, 2025
  • 5pm-8pm Pacific Time (8pm-11pm Eastern)
  • Online course​ (Zoom)
  • $325+GST (CAD $)
  • Sliding scale available.
  • Register at the bottom of this page.
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Upgrade from Basic to 40h
​Mental Health Wilderness First Aid
​(+24h course = 40 hour certification)

Expand on your skills following your Basic certification!

This course 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, disordered eating, uncooperative clients, psychosis, self-injury, suicidal ideation, and resilience.


Includes: 18h classroom time, 6h self-directed homework time.


Available to those who have completed, or will complete, a Basic (16h) course before their Upgrade to 40h course begins.

Upgrade to 40H
​course dates

December 2025
​ONLINE 
​upgrade from Basic TO 40H Intermediate
(+24H Upgrade course = total 40H cert)
UPGRADE from BASIC to 40H certification course 

Prerequisites: 
  • For those who have previously completed a MHWFA Basic course.

The Upgrade to 40H Intermediate course is +24 hours total:
  • 18h classroom time (over Zoom),
  • 6h self-directed homework time (reading & written assignments before, during, & after the course).
  • ​Successful completion results in a MHWFA 40 hour Intermediate certification
​​
Course dates, December 2025
Wednesday evenings & full day Saturdays
​
  • Wednesday, December 3, 5-8pm Pacific (8-11pm Eastern)
  • Saturday, December 6, 8am-3pm Pacific (11am-6pm Eastern)
  • Wednesday, December 10, 5-8pm Pacific (8-11pm Eastern)
  • Saturday, December 13, 8am-3pm Pacific (11am-6pm Eastern)


  • Online course​ (Zoom)
  • $525+GST (CAD $), sliding scale available
  • ​Register below

While registering ... order the course manual!
​Updated v.2.5 available March 2025
Now in PDF + Print options
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Register below

Open Course Registration

Recertifying? Click here
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 Terms & Conditions, & Cancellation Policies - read me
Please read carefully the terms & conditions, including course expectations and cancellation policies.  There is important course preparation information in here for you, too -- it is not all legalistic!
2025-02_mhwfa_terms_and_conditions.pdf
File Size: 531 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

1. registration form
    Please spell your name exactly as it should appear on your certificate. If you have a preferred name that is different, feel free to let us know below.
    This could include what interests you about the topic, experiences you've had with yourself or others, or potential triggers you might experience when talking about mental health. This information may help your instructor(s) be set up to support your learning, and will not be shared with your coursemates without your permission. You may also request a phone chat if that is more comfortable for you.
    We will contact you with a confirmation!  Please submit this form, then submit payment below to complete your registration.  
Submit
2. Payment

Course & Manual Payment

Course registration fees
Please ensure you are paying for the correct course.

Basic Course $325 + GST
Pay for a 16h BASIC course:
Sliding scale available


Upgrade from Basic to 40H course $525 + GST
Pay for an Upgrade from Basic to 40h course:
Sliding scale available
Scholarships & Sliding Scale info
​​​Sliding scale discount: A sliding scale is available to students / low-income earners upon request.   Simply click the course cost window when paying to access sliding scale options.  Scholarships may also be available - see below.
​
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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 [email protected] and tell us about your situation.  A number of partial scholarships is available each year. 
E-transfer payment option (Canadians)
​Calculate your total (including 5% GST), and send an e-transfer to [email protected].

****Please clarify what/whom the payment is for****

Order your (print or PDF) manual Now

Manuals are optional (recommended) for a MHWFA course.  They are an excellent resource, covering all Basic and Intermediate course material and more, especially as PowerPoint slides are not made available.  Manuals include assessment, skills and interventions, evacuation rubrics, field guides, forms and references. 
Topics covered: MHWFA steps, assessments, interventions, evacuation criteria, resilience, anxiety & phobia, panic attack, trauma, grief & loss, depression & mood disorders, psychosis, self-injury, and suicidal ideation, newly updated for 2024.  See table of contents for full topic list.


​Read the Introduction free online!
  • 240+ pages, filled with illustrations and visual graphics.
  • High quality B&W printing, spiral bound, with vinyl/poly covers and quick-reference tabs.
​**NEW** PDF full colour version now available! 
  • High-quality PDF (approx. 500MB), full colour.
  • PDF licensed & watermarked for individual customer use only.
  • Download link delivered to your inbox.
Order your course manual
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Mental Health Wilderness First Aid
Daye Hagel, M.A., C.C.C.
Salt Spring Island, B.C.
CONTACT US

About Us

About MHWFA
Meet the Team
Specials
​Contact Us
​

Courses & Events

Upcoming Courses
Custom Courses
​
Recertifying
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MHWFA STORE
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© COPYRIGHT D. Hagel, Mental Health Wilderness First Aid, 2025. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
We do not require personal medical information from our students, volunteers,
staff, or contractors as a condition of providing services.
  • Home
  • About / Contact
    • About MHWFA
    • Meet the Team
    • Contact Us
  • MHWFA Courses
    • Open Courses
    • Custom Courses
    • Recertifying
  • Events & Guest Speakers
    • Upcoming Events
    • Past Events
  • Resources
    • Helplines & other trainings
    • Recommended Reading
    • MHWFA Printables
    • Manual
  • Store
  • Current Students
    • 2025-02 Basic open
    • 2025-03 Basic open
    • 2025-03 Upgrade to 40h
    • 2025-04 NGR
    • 2025-06 Basic open