Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is the support provided to a person who may be experiencing a decline in their mental well-being or a mental health crisis. The Mental Health Commission of Canada reports that one in every five Canadians experiences a mental health problem in any given year. We tend to know more about physical illness than we do about mental health or substance use problems.
This lack of understanding leads to negative attitudes of stigma toward people who live with these problems. It stops people from seeking help for themselves. When we don’t know that someone is having difficulty with their mental health, then that prevents us from being able to support them with what they need.
John Dinn is a certified Mental Health First Aid trainer in Newfoundland and Labrador. He is also employed by the Canadian Mental Health Association as the Workplace Mental Health Coordinator. He brings many years of experience in helping workplaces to develop into psychologically healthy and safe spaces for everyone.
