Mental Health First Aid for Inuit:
Expressions of Interest
Deadline for submissions: October 2, 2015
www.mentalhealthcommision.ca www.mentalhealthfirstaid.ca
Introduction to Mental Health First Aid
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is the help provided to someone developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. Just as physical first aid is administered to an injured person before medical treatment can be obtained, MHFA is given until appropriate mental health support can be found or the crisis has resolved.
Mental Health First Aid Canada is an evidence-based program that increases mental health literacy, decreases stigma, and provides the skills and knowledge to help people better manage potential mental health problems in themselves or in someone else. It even improves the mental health of first-aiders. The overall goal of the MHFA course is to improve Canadians’ knowledge and awareness of mental health and provide participants with the skills to assist a person that is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. In Canada, we have over 1000 trained instructors who have, in turn, trained over 140, 000 Canadians in Mental Health First Aid.
The Development of Mental Health First Aid Inuit (MHFA Inuit)
An adaptation to the original program, Mental Health First Aid for Inuit is meant to support and build capacity towards mental wellness in Inuit regions. With funding from Health Canada, MHFA Canada has been assisting with the development of a program, in collaboration with Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the Nunatsiavut Government, the Nunavik Regional Health Board, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation since October 2014.
MHFA’s goal is to support Inuit regions in designing a curriculum that is more than just culturally relevant, we want to ensure that MHFA Inuit is also a culturally safe and competent tool. Mental wellness leaders from each region have played a key role in the development of a MHFA Inuit curriculum and will continue to serve in a capacity best suited to each of the four regions.
MHFA recognizes that Inuit know what is best for them and our goal is to assist them in their efforts to build a successful MHFA Inuit program that speaks to Inuit across Canada. MHFA Canada will continue to support the development of MHFA Inuit with existing Inuit partners and hopes to welcome two more Inuit partners
(Nunavut and urban Inuit) to the development process this year. MHFA Inuit will host another Instructor training in Ottawa in the fall which will be led by two Inuit MHFA Inuit Master Trainers in training from Nunavut and Inuvialuit.
MHFA Canada will continue to support the development of MHFA Inuit with existing Inuit partners and hopes to welcome up to ten more Inuit Instructors (two from each region and one from an urban centre). MHFA Inuit will host another Instructor training in Ottawa in the fall which will be led by two Inuit MHFA Inuit Master Trainers in training from Nunavut and Inuvialuit.
The Mental Health First Aid Inuit program offers:
An opportunity for the four Inuit regions and an urban Inuit community to recommend qualified individuals (from their regions) to be trained as MHFA Inuit instructors at the end of November 2015. Free five-day MHFA Inuit Instructor training will be available for two facilitators from each region and two from an urban Inuit community. Participant manuals will be provided to support delivery of the MHFA Inuit program to community members, as well as ongoing support for new and original facilitators, including onsite encouragement by the MHFA Inuit program officer and an Inuit Master Trainer during preparation and first course delivery.
New MHFA Inuit instructors will deliver pilot courses within their communities as the curriculum continues to develop and a program officer from Mental Health First Aid Canada will coordinate and work with Inuit mental wellness leaders as it moves forward.
Mental Health First Aid for Inuit – Criteria for Partners
Organizational
requirements The MHCC is accepting applications from recognized Inuit health centres or other officially recognized Inuit organizations at this time from Nunavut and an urban location with a significant Inuit population.
Regional and organizational readiness (able to participate in a developmental process and meet deadlines)
Interested partners will be responsible for sending facilitators to attend a five-day Mental Health First Aid training in the fall of 2015 and subsequently delivering a three-day course to participants in his/her region before January 2016. Travel and accomodation costs for MHFA Inuit Instructors and MHFA Master Trainers will be covered by Mental Health First Aid Inuit.
Identification of an
available lead advisor A representative (Regional Coordinator) at the management/senior level must be available to attend monthly teleconference meetings 45 to 90 minutes in length.
Please identify and include a resume for this individual in your expression of interest.
Ongoing commitment
to mental wellness Please indicate how your region or urban location will integrate Mental Health First Aid Inuit into your mental wellness plans and strategy.
Ability to support access to cultural advisors, Elders and knowledge keepers
Applying organizations must be able to facilitate access to meetings with MHFA staff and local cultural advisors, traditional knowledge keepers and Elders to support the development of the curriculum.
Identify two available facilitator candidates for Mental Health First Aid for Inuit
MHFA Inuit is designed to be presented by at least two facilitators. Please identify two facilitator candidates who are likely to attend the MHFA Inuit training in November 2015. It is recommended that at least one additional candidate be identified as a standby for unforeseen circumstances.
Facilitator
qualifications and requirements
Include resumes for two facilitators with the following qualifications:
• Good understanding of Inuit mental wellness and balance
• Experience working with people with mental health problems
• Good teaching and/or group facilitation skills
• Good background knowledge of mental health and local community services
• Knowledge of Inuit history and culture
• Previous training in Mental Health First Aid, Basic or Youth, is preferred but not required
• Inuit person or an individual with significant experience working within Inuit communities is preferred
Capacity to support implementation of the program
MHFA Inuit Facilitator training is designed to provide five days of training as a basis for the material. In addition, each new facilitator will require an additional 30 hours to prepare for their first co-facilitation of the program — this includes binder preparation, practice time, seeking Elder support and participation.
The program staff from MHFA Inuit will host preliminary teleconference meetings with Inuit partners to exchange information and bridge program goals.
Access to training space, laptop, projectors and/or DVD player
One day of access to a meeting room or space to hold MHFA training to be held, including a smaller breakout room.
MHFA is designed to include videos on DVD and PowerPoint slides. A working laptop, projector and DVD player is required to deliver the program.
Please submit your application using the template by email to Del Jacko at: djacko@mentalhealthcommission.ca ___________________________________________________________________
Mental Health First Aid Canada appreciates the support of Health Canada in funding the development of the MHFA-Inuit project.
