FOSTERING AWARENESS
Building Resilience in Communities
CHFconnect offers workshops and training focusing on ending the stigma surrounding mental health and creating healthier communities and workplaces. The training is led by Christa Haywood-Farmer, who has worked in the community mental health field in senior management for over 20 years. She is a contract trainer with the Mental Health Commission of Canada and is certified to teach Mental Health First Aid and The Working Mind courses. She has a passion and focus for increasing mental health literacy and awareness at the community level.
CHFconnect
Mental Wellness Workshops & Training
The following workshops and training courses are available for closed groups only. No individual sessions are available at this time. To book a workshop or training course, please contact Christa directly.
RESPOND & SUPPORT
Mental Health First Aid
Mental Health First Aid is an evidence-based training program that equips participants with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to recognize changes in mental health and respond in a supportive, practical way. Participants learn how to assist someone experiencing declining mental health or a crisis, reduce stigma, and foster more open conversations about mental well-being. The course also emphasizes the importance of caring for one’s own mental health.
Essentials is designed to be accessible and relevant across a wide range of settings. This one-day streamlined course provides a strong foundation in Mental Health First Aid principles without formal assessment or certification. It is an ideal option for individuals, teams, and communities seeking practical, meaningful, and time-efficient mental health training.
Certification provides in-depth, scenario-based training that helps participants identify and support individuals experiencing declining mental health or a crisis within two days of training. Through interactive learning, participants develop a deeper understanding of mental health disorders, contributing factors, and practical strategies for offering effective, compassionate support. As an innovative and leading-edge program in the mental health sector, MHFA Certification offers official certification of participants’ skills and commitment to supporting mental well-being in their communities and workplaces.
For the full course outlines, please see below:
A CULTURE OF UNDERSTANDING
The Working Mind
Drawing from extensive research in mental health policy, The Working Mind offers comprehensive strategies designed to cultivate resilience within the workplace environment. Knowing how to recognize mental health problems and learning how to support colleagues (and yourself) will foster awareness and help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health.
- Employees
- Managers
What you will learn:
- The intricacies of mental health and mental illness, including recognizing signs and indicators of problems
- Combat stigma and negative attitudes surrounding mental health issues
- Provide support to colleagues dealing with mental health challenges, promoting a culture of understanding and assistance within the workplace
- Prioritize the importance of maintaining personal mental health and building resilience through proactive measures and self-care
IN THE WORKPLACE
Boundaries in the Workplace
Discover the essential skills of managing both interpersonal and professional boundaries in this workshop, and learn about the significance of maintaining these boundaries through self-care and resilience strategies.
What you will learn:
- What boundaries are
- Why boundaries are necessary and important in the workplace
- Identifying steps to setting boundaries in the workplace
- Creating helpful relationships
- The importance of personal accountability, consistency, and credibility
INTERPERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
Respectful Communication
In this workshop, you’ll learn tools and tips regarding the significance of tailoring your verbal and non-verbal communication to your audience, mastering active listening to grasp others’ perspectives, and engaging in respectful communication amidst conflict and potential escalation.
What you will learn:
- How to define respect and expectations
- Methods of communication and the power of language
- Effective listening and approaches to responding
- Awareness of personal responsibility, consistency, and perception
- Causes of conflict
HEALTHIER MINDS
Understanding Anxiety
Facing overwhelming situations can often trigger anxiety, yet managing it proves challenging for many. While a certain level of anxiety is typical, it becomes problematic when it hinders our daily functioning both at home and at work or encroaches upon our sense of self.
What you will learn:
- How to define and “normalize” anxiety
- Learning the difference between helpful and unhelpful anxiety
- Anxiety vs. anxiety disorders
- How to cope and how to respond
- Resources
LEARN HOW TO HELP
Maintaining Mental Health & Wellness
Mental health affects all of us. In Canada, it is reported that one in five people will experience a mental health issue within a year. For that reason alone, learning how to recognize the signs of declining mental health, identifying coping strategies, and connecting to appropriate resources are key to supporting those we care about and ourselves.
What you will learn:
- Common assumptions
- Mental health, mental health issues, mental health disorders
- The importance of mental health and wellness
- The impacts of stigma
- Coping skills and tools
