Community Mental Health and Addictions Certificate

Deepen your understanding of mental health conditions, symptoms, treatment, and stigma. Learn practical knowledge and skills to support those struggling with mental illness or addiction.

Community Mental Health and Addictions Certificate Overview

Each year, a growing number of people are diagnosed with mental health issues in Canada and across the globe.
Professionals in community-facing roles (such as healthcare, law enforcement, human resources and education) must develop new skills to effectively support and serve this rapidly expanding population. This is the purpose and goal of the Community Mental Health and Addictions certificate.

This training combines cutting-edge research, application to real-life situations, and self-reflection to help you learn:

  • Common mental health issues among adolescents, including warning signs, interventions, and mental health first aid
  • How to identify cultural and personal biases toward mental health and how those attitudes impact your interactions with people in need of support
  • The features and impact of co-occurring disorders (such as a mental illness combined with addiction)
  • Leading theories on the causes and treatment of mood disorders and depression
  • Practical tools and standard practices for diagnosing psychotic and dissociative disorders

Benefits of Online Mental Health and Addiction Training at Kompass

The Community Mental Health and Addictions certificate is delivered online for maximum flexibility without sacrificing on quality, engagement, or instructor support.

Here’s how it works:

  • Study online and fit coursework around your schedule
  • Learn from experienced and certified mental health care professionals
  • Exchange ideas with your peers through online discussions
  • Get personalized support and coaching
  • Learn practical mental health skills you can apply immediately in your own work
Group of people sitting in a circle at group therapy

Meet Our Community Mental Health Instructor, Rose Ceci

Meet our instructor and learn more about what to expect in class and how everyone can benefit from this kind of training.
READ MORE 

Careers in Mental Health and Addictions

Mental health and addictions professionals work in many different settings, including hospitals, schools, shelters, correctional facilities, group homes, and community outreach organizations.

Common job titles in this field include:

  • Community Mental Health Worker
  • Community Outreach Worker
  • Child and Youth Worker
  • Community Support Worker
  • Crisis Support Worker
  • Mental Health Clinician

Learn more: Career Paths in Community Mental Health: What Are Your Options?

Course Format and Schedule

(Asynchronous)
Instructor-supported courses come with the support of a dedicated instructor but do not follow a set class schedule. Students work at their own pace to complete the course within a set time period. The instructor may offer pre-recorded lectures that are available for students to review or check-in sessions that students can participate in via video conferencing.

Youth Mental Health and Addictions

1-2 weeks

Youth mental health facts/definitions, Youth development, signs of negative mental health in youth, risk factors, addiction/substance use, and technology/social media.

This course thoroughly investigates the wide spectrum of youth mental health and addiction.  Students will discuss mental health facts and definitions and study their application in relevant case studies.  To further understand the spectrum of youth mental health, students will learn about the teenage brain and youth neurological development.  Students will also explore associated risk factors for addiction/substance abuse, including youth technology and social media.

Mental Health, Culture and Society

3-6 weeks

Bias and Stigma, Social Determinants of Health, Health Equity, Aboriginal peoples, Culture and religion, and LGBTQ+

This course will examine the details involved with impacting Canadian mental health today. With mental health issues dramatically on the rise, it is imperative that we understand the wide spectrum of elements that contribute to the development of mental health.

Psychotic and Trauma-Related Mental Health Disorders

2-4 weeks

Psychosis, Dissociative Identity Disorder, PTSD, and mental status exams.

Trauma-related and psychotic mental health disorders are examined in this course through discussion and applied case studies. This course is designed to introduce students to the current standard used in diagnosing mental disorders, DSM-IV-TR. Students will learn the components of the mental status examination and clinical inquiry necessary to collect sufficient data to utilize the DSM-IV-TR effectively. Mindful of the biological, psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions of each person, students will be challenged to approach the evaluation of individuals with mental and emotional disorders in a holistic fashion. The course will address differential diagnoses and associated disorders of the primary diagnoses in the multi-axial system with a focus on psychosis and disassociation.

Mood and Anxiety Disorders

2-4 weeks

Depression & anxiety disorders, Bipolar Disorder, and personality and  – impulse control disorders.

Mood disorders involve disabling disturbances in emotion, from the sadness of depression to the elation of mania. Mood disorders are often associated with other psychological problems, such as panic attacks, substance abuse, and personality disorders. The purpose of this course is to provide students with an advanced understanding of the state of research and controversies in the area of depression by examining primary empirical evidence and reviewing articles from leading researchers in psychology and psychiatry. Students will also explore anxiety, its associated experience, coping mechanisms, and potential treatments, in addition to focusing on cognitive, social, and biological theories of etiology and treatment.

Mental Health Wellness and Suicide Intervention

3-6 weeks

Protective factors, stages of change model, signs & symptoms, suicide facts & prevalence, and suicide risk assessment.

People today struggle with many elements of mental health. In order to support healthy coping mechanisms, it is necessary to understand the nuances of what encompasses mental health wellness and suicide intervention.

Instructors

Meet our industry-expert instructors. 

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Rose Ceci
Instructor, Healthcare

I have been a mental health nurse for 18 years. I have a Masters degree in nursing and am a certified psychiatric mental health nurse with the Canadian Mental Health Association. Most of my experience has been working in adolescent mental health at the Sick Kids Centre for Community Mental Health (formerly the Hincks Dellcrest Centre) in Toronto. I was a volunteer nurse with the Sherbourne Health bus, providing medical care and basic hygiene supplies to marginalized people in downtown Toronto. I am currently a Nurse Clinician at Humber River Hospital, providing mental health assessments, consultation, and staff coaching.

I have experience running various groups such as CBT based groups, structured relapse prevention, and self esteem groups as well as various methods of counselling including Dialectical Behaviour Therapy and Motivational Interviewing.

Overview

START DATES
Weekly (Mondays)
TOTAL PROGRAM LENGTH
11 weeks to 6 months
DELIVERY
Online (Instructor Supported)
ENTRANCE REQUIREMENT
Post-secondary education (degree or diploma) OR experience in a related field

Scholarship Offer

Register for a certificate and automatically receive a $500 discount on tuition!

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Ready to start?

Classes begin every Monday!

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Register for Individual Class

Related Certificates

Who Should Take the Certificate?

The Community Mental Health and Addictions certificate is designed for professionals working in front-line, community-serving roles. Anyone who regularly interacts with people suffering from mental health issues will benefit from this training:

  • Healthcare workers
  • Social workers
  • Educators
  • Law enforcement
  • HR professionals

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

  • Post-secondary university degree or college diploma; OR
  • Relevant professional experience

If you do not meet our entrance requirements for this program you may be interested in the Community Support Worker online diploma program

Gillian, Community Mental Health Student
I have just completed the Community Mental Health certification and I absolutely loved it. The format of the course was very accommodating to those with busy schedules and still managed to be consistent, informative and interactive. The professors I had were both very engaging, knowledgeable and made already interesting material even better! Their slides, links and discussions were fantastic and I learned a lot that I will carry on with more towards future endeavours. Definitely recommend!

Tuition

*Register for a certificate and automatically receive a $500 scholarship towards tuition!*

Community Mental Health and Addictions Individual Classes

The chart below outlines the cost of Community Mental Health and Addictions classes if you choose to take them individually. Once you register for three or more classes within a certificate, you will be charged the non-refundable $200 registration fee. Individual classes must be paid in full at time of registration – click here to register for an individual class.

Community Mental Health and Addictions Certificate

A $200 non-refundable registration fee is charged when you register for an entire certificate. The $500 scholarship will be automatically applied to your future payments. We offer a payment plan for tuition in three equal payments of $665 at week 1, week 5, and week 9, which will be automatically charged to your method of payment unless otherwise coordinated with accounting.

We also offer an extended payment plan with monthly payments of $333 over six months. Please note your course must be paid in full prior to completion.

Kompass Alumni and Corporate Training Discounts

Students who successfully complete a certificate with Kompass are eligible for 20% off future certificates and classes. Group and employer discounts and custom corporate training options are available for three or more students.

Textbooks

All reading materials are provided for this course.

Courses
Individual Cost
Youth Mental Health and Addictions (1-2 weeks)
$415
Mental Health, Culture and Society (3-6 Weeks)
$624
Mental Health Wellness and Suicide Intervention (3-6 weeks )
$ $624
Mood and Anxiety Disorders (2-4 weeks)
$416
Psychotic and Trauma Related Mental Health Disorders (2-4 weeks)
$416
TOTAL COST
$2495CAD + $200 REG.FEE
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