Training Catalogue

Training for Frontline Community Health Workers

Mental Health

Click the title to read the workshop description.

Introductory Workshops:

Designed for PSWs who are new to the topic. These sessions provide a broad overview and introduce key concepts to build foundational understanding.

  • * Introduction to Mental Health - 3 Hours

    This session provides an overview of mental health, mental health issues and mental illness. This 3-hour session covers basic concepts, myths, barriers to support, and the PSW role in supporting a client with mental health issues. It provides a base for our other workshops on mental health. 


    Designed for: PSWs and other support workers who have not had recent training in mental health. 


    This session will help you:

    • Examine personal beliefs about mental health issues, mental illness and the impact those beliefs may have when working with a client.
    • Understand in general terms the most common types of mental illness among older people, including mood disorders, depression and other affective/thought disorders.
    • Identify fundamental support techniques useful in working with clients with mental health issues.
    • Identify risks to the support worker's own boundaries and well-being, and strategies to address them.

Fundamentals:

Designed for PSWs who have foundational knowledge of the topic but limited or no recent experience supporting clients with the condition.

  • * Making the Connection with Clients Facing Mental Health Issues - 3 Hours

    Establishing a rapport with clients experiencing mental health challenges can be complex and requires a thoughtful approach. This session focuses on building trust, strengthening engagement, and using effective communication techniques to support meaningful connection and collaboration. 


    This session will help you:

    • Understand the factors that may affect a person's willingness to accept support or trust others.
    • Strengthen interpersonal skills to overcome client hesitation and build trust.
    • Use effective communication techniques to engage clients who are reluctant or withdrawn.
    • Communicate client progress and observations clearly with other team members.

  • *NEW* Supporting Clients with Depression and Anxiety

    This session covers the fundamentals of acute and chronic variants of depression and anxiety. We will discuss anxiety and depression as often co-existing conditions, useful interventions in supporting a client, and signs that additional intervention may be needed. There will be opportunities to discuss your own experiences and learn new techniques and approaches to better identify and support clients with depression.


    This session will help you:

    • Identify the key characteristics of anxiety and depression.
    • Distinguish between acute and chronic forms of each condition.
    • Apply interventions that are tailored to individual client needs.
    • Understand the importance of sharing effective, strengths-based approaches with the care team.

  • *NEW* Supporting Clients who have OCD or Hoarding Disorder

    This session discusses Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Hoarding Disorder as distinct conditions. Examine specific characteristics of each, and outline approaches that assist the client to manage characteristics.


    This session will help you:

    • Recognize the key characteristics of Hoarding Disorder.
    • Understand the features of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and how it differs from hoarding.
    • Select and apply interventions that are responsive to each client's unique needs.
    • Share successful strategies and positive approaches with colleagues to support consistent care.

Intermediate:

Designed for PSWs who have taken the Fundamentals workshops OR have other relevant training. These sessions are not appropriate for PSWs who are new to the sector or new to working with clients with mental health issues.

  • *NEW* Supporting the Client with Dementia and Depression/Anxiety

    This session explores how cognitive loss interacts with existing mental health conditions and offers practical approaches to support positive, respectful experiences for both clients and support workers. 


    This session will help you:

    • Recognize how depression and cognitive loss may present in clients.
    • Prioritize concerns and determine what to respond to first.
    • Apply interventions tailored to each client's unique needs.
    • Share positive approaches and effective strategies with team members. 

  • *NEW* Supporting the Person with both Chronic and Acute Anxiety/Depression

    It's not uncommon for clients with chronic mental health issues to also experience acute mental health conditions. This session will provide you with skills to help clients manage both types. 


    This session will help you:

    • Differentiate between acute and chronic conditions.
    • Understand compound and cascading changes and their impact on clients.
    • Apply interventions tailored to individual client needs.
    • Share positive approaches and effective strategies with the care team.

  • *NEW* When the Client has No-One

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  • Bridging the Trust-Gap: Establishing Rapport with Clients Who Have Mental Health Issues

    Clients who have mental health conditions may find it difficult to trust others. Yet, trust and rapport are fundamental to support work. This session will focus on the skills and approaches useful for PSWs and other front-line support workers when building a relationship and sense of connectedness with clients who have mental health issues.  Focus will be on establishing rapport that can be built upon as service progresses.


    This session will help your staff:

    • appreciate the factors that may affect a person’s views of support or willingness to trust another
    • identify the client’s goals and needs and how they relate to the overall support plan
    • use interpersonal skills to overcome hesitation, difficulty in trusting
    • use tools to identify what does, and doesn’t, matter in terms of the support provided

    This workshop is typically offered as a three-hour session but if you prefer a longer or shorter duration, it can be customized to fit your organization's specific requirements.

  • Communicating with Clients Who Have Mental Health Issues

    This workshop will provide a framework to help PSWs and other front-line support workers enhance their ability to communicate with clients who have mental health issues.


    This workshop will help your staff:

    • describe the importance of observation and critical thinking in communicating with a client with mental health issues
    • identify various approaches that may enhance communication
    • share support information useful to the team with the team

    This workshop is typically offered as a three-hour session but if you prefer a longer or shorter duration, it can be customized to fit your organization's specific requirements.

  • Introduction to Mental Illness: From Myth to Understanding

    This session provides an overview of mental health, mental health issues and mental illness. It's aimed at PSWs and other support workers who have not had recent training in mental health.


    It will help your staff:

    • better understand mental health issues and mental illness
    • examine personal beliefs about mental health issues, mental illness and the impact those beliefs may have when working with a client
    • understand in general terms the most common types of mental illnesses among older people, including depression, other affective disorders and thought disorders
    • identify fundamental support techniques useful in working with clients with mental health issues
    • identify risks to the support worker’s own boundaries and well-being - and strategies to address them

    This workshop is typically offered as a three-hour session but if you prefer a longer or shorter duration, it can be customized to fit your organization's specific requirements.

  • Specialist Certificate in Mental Health

    This customized program provides PSWs and other front-line support workers with an in-depth understanding of mental health conditions. Separating myth from knowledge, the program provides numerous approaches for providing support to clients.  We’ll work with you to select topics that meet your organization’s specific needs and create a comprehensive program that builds confidence and practical skills. 


    Capacity Builders’ specialist certificate programs are typically 12 - 18 hours in length and include extensive hands-on learning (the program does not have to be delivered on consecutive days – we’ll work together to determine an appropriate training schedule for your staff).  We welcome the opportunity to work with single organizations, multiple providers, collaboratives, or networks.  A certificate identifying participants as Specialists in Mental Health is awarded to those who successfully complete the program.  

  • Supporting a Client Who Has Symptoms of Depression

    This interactive workshop will provide your front-line staff with the knowledge and skills needed to support clients with depression.  Your support workers will learn about the condition, its symptoms and causes, and understand ways in which depression affects client’s lives. There will be ample opportunity for your staff to discuss their own experiences and learn new techniques and approaches to better identify and support clients with depression. 

     

    This workshop will help your staff:

    • understand the similarities and differences between a client who is sad, and one who is showing symptoms of depression
    • be better equipped to recognize signs of depression in clients
    • feel more confident talking to and supporting clients with symptoms of depression
    • recognize the value of their interaction and use their skills to support clients
    • identify risks to their own boundaries and well-being - and strategies to address them

    This workshop is typically offered as a three-hour session but if you prefer a longer or shorter duration, it can be customized to fit your organization's specific requirements.

  • Supporting Clients with Anxiety and Affective Disorders

    This session will help your staff to identify the characteristics of anxiety and other affective disorders, and to respond with appropriate support.


    This session will help your staff:

    • identify and challenge myths about anxiety and other affective disorders and better understand how these misunderstandings may affect how the worker supports the client
    • gain current general knowledge of anxiety and other affective disorders; their signs and causes
    • understand common struggles for someone with anxiety
    • gain insight into the impacts on family and other caregivers
    • learn strategies to support clients, including participating positively in support planning/implementation

    This workshop is typically offered as a three-hour session but if you prefer a longer or shorter duration, it can be customized to fit your organization's specific requirements.

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Winter Workshop Policy
To ensure the safety and accessibility of our workshops, we will not schedule in-person sessions between December and March. Winter weather conditions during this period can lead to hazardous travel, which may impact both participant attendance and trainer availability. During these months, we encourage virtual workshops as an effective alternative, allowing uninterrupted training and support regardless of weather challenges.