previous next
Home

Main course

Course page How to navigate the course Course syllabus Glossary Course intro Details and logistics CoP SMEs Course agreements and conditions Acknowledgements

Module 1: Immigration and social determinants of health
1.1 — Understanding mental health in Canada
1.1.1. General prevalence and impact + 1.1.2 Legislation affecting the rights of clients
1.2 — Understanding immigration in Canada
1.2.1 A brief history + + 1.2.2 Temporary Residents 1.2.3 Permanent Residents + + 1.2.4 Immigration Trends + 1.2.5 Demographic trends + + + +
1.3 — Mental health of immigrants and refugees
1.3.1 Immigrant and Refugee Mental Health 1.3.2 The healthy immigrant effect 1.3.3 The determinants of mental health + 1.3.4 The migration journey 1.3.5 Social determinants in the post-migration context + + +
Case study: Ibraheem Summary

Module 2: Intro to Mental Health
2.1 Understanding mental illness
2.1.1 Understanding mental health and mental illness 2.1.2 The continuum of mental health and mental illness 2.1.3 Prevalence of mental health problems and illness among immigrants and refugees
2.2 Common mental disorders
2.2.1 Depressive disorders 2.2.2 Anxiety disorders 2.2.3 Posttraumatic stress disorder + 2.2.4 Psychosis 2.2.5 Substance abuse
Summary

Module 3: Key populations - women
3.1.1 Social risk factors affecting women 3.1.2 Gender-based violence + + 3.1.3 Pregnancy + 3.1.4 Barriers to seeking help 3.1.5 Clinical considerations 3.1.6 Providing mental health support + Summary

Module 4: Key populations - children
4.1.1 Immigrant and refugee children 4.1.2 Needs of adolescents and youth 4.1.3 Mental illness and mental health problems + + 4.1.4 Needs of adolescents and youth 4.1.5 Post-migration and social determinants of mental health 4.1.6 Risk and protective factors + + 4.1.7 Distress vs. mental disorder in refugee children + 4.1.8 Providing mental health support + + Summary

Module 5: Key populations...
5.1 Older adults
5.1.1 Older adults 5.1.2 Risk factors for mental health problems and illnesses 5.1.3 Clinical considerations 5.1.4 Promoting mental health
5.2 Survivors of torture
5.2.1 Survivors of torture 5.2.2 Effects of torture 5.2.3 Clinical considerations + + 5.2.4 Mental health interventions +
5.3 LGBTQ2+ immigrants and refugees
5.3.1 LGBTQ2+ immigrants and refugees 5.3.2 Risk factors for mental health 5.3.3 Clinical considerations 5.3.4 Mental health interventions
5.4 People living with disabilities
5.4.1 People living with disabilities 5.4.2 Risk factors 5.4.3 Clinical considerations 5.4.4 Providing mental health support
Summary

Module 6: Treatment and support
6.1 Treatment
6.1.1 Treatment 6.1.2 Providing newcomers with mental health services 6.1.3 Treatment models 6.1.4 Cultural competence in mental health care 6.1.5 Trauma-informed care 6.1.6 Resilience
6.2 Treatment interventions
6.2.1 Treatment interventions 6.2.2 Psychosocial interventions
6.3 Psychotherapy and counselling
6.3.1 Psychotherapy and counselling 6.3.2 Cultural factors 6.3.3 Psychotherapeutic interventions
6.4 Pharmacotherapy
6.4.1 Pharmacotherapy 6.4.2 Cultural factors 6.4.3 Practical issues
Summary

Module 7
7.1 Health equity
7.1.1 Health equity 7.1.2 Why health equity matters
7.2 Anti-Racism
7.2.1 Racism 7.2.2 Anti-Black racism 7.2.3 Racism and mental health + 7.2.4 Social inclusion and exclusion 7.2.5 Bias + + (SW) + (HP) + (SW) + (HP) Anti-oppression framework (SW) + (SW)
7.3 Intersectionality
7.3.1 Intersecting identities 7.3.2 Intersectionality and mental health (HP) 7.3.2 Intersectionality and mental health (SW)
7.4 Anti-oppression and allyship
7.4.1 Inclusive practice and how to work inclusively 7.4.2 Moving from cultural awareness to cultural humility + (HP) 7.4.2 The process of unlearning 7.4.4 Power and privilege +
Summary

Module 8: Service delivery + pathways to care
8.1 Pathways to Care
8.1.1 Navigating mental health services + 8.1.2 Factors that influence help-seeking + 8.1.3 Connecting with primary care
8.2 Facilitating effective service use
8.2.1 Facilitating effective service use 8.2.2 Make changes to programs, policies and institutions 8.2.3 Consider the impact of culture +
8.3 Working with interpreters
8.3.1 Language and its effects on access to care 8.3.2 Translation and interpreting + + + 8.3.3 Types of interpreters 8.3.4 Mental Health Interpretation +
Summary

Module 9: Partnerships + mental health promotion
9.1 Strategies for promoting mental health
Strategies for promoting mental health + +
9.2 Social Supports
9.2.1 Social Supports 9.2.2 Formal organizations 9.2.3 Informal social networks +
9.3 Community development and partnerships
9.3.1 Community development and partnerships 9.3.2 Asset-based community development + 9.3.3 Community partnerships + + +
Summary

Module 10: Self-care
10.1.1 Self-care 10.1.2 Compassion fatigue 10.1.3 Secondary trauma 10.1.4 Burnout and its effects + 10.1.5 Boundary issues + 10.1.6 Seeking help +
Summary Glossary
1.1.1

General prevalence and impact

In any given year, one in five Canadians will experience a mental health problem or illness.

1 in 5 figures
half of canada

About half of Canadians will have or have had mental health problems or disorders by the time they turn 40 years old. (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2021)

By 2041, it is projected that over 8.9 million people in Canada will be living with a mental health problem or illness — and this figure does not account for COVID-19 impacts. As the graph below shows, it is estimated that this increase will apply to all age groups. The increase is primarily driven by Canada's projected population growth and aging population over the next 30 years. (Mental Health Commission of Canada, 2013)

*Mental Illness includes mood and anxiety disorders, SUD, schizophrenia, ADHD, ODD, Conduct Disorders, and Dementia.
icon

Impact of COVID-19

National surveys on COVID-19 and mental health indicate that more Canadians screened positive for symptoms of depression and anxiety a year after the pandemic began compared to the year before the pandemic. Racialized persons and those already experiencing poor mental health before COVID-19 experienced greater negative impacts (Statistics Canada, 2021; Canada, 2020).