Mental Health First Aid - Veterans Community

September 17, 2026

Training Description:

MHFA-Veterans Community is the support provided to a person who may be experiencing a decline in their mental well-being or a mental health crisis.

During the course, participants will learn how to recognize signs that a person may be experiencing a decline in their mental well-being, and how to provide support to that person through the MHFA actions.

Learning Objectives:

Increase awareness of mental health
- Recognize indicators of mental health across the continuum (optimal, declining, poor).
- Acknowledge specific circumstances impacting mental health in the Veteran Community.
Improve confidence to provide help
- Apply the ALGES framework in scenarios relative to the Veteran Community demonstrating declining mental health and crisis.
- Demonstrate empathy and effective listening skills in supportive interactions.
- Communicate non-judgmentally using verbal and non-verbal skills.
- Provide reassurance and appropriate information in supportive conversations.
- Explain recovery-oriented approaches to providing support.
Decrease mental health-related stigma
- Recognize stigmatizing language and practice respectful alternatives.
- Reflect on personal attitudes and biases that contribute to stigma.
- Explore stigma-related beliefs and attitudes pertaining to mental health within the Veteran Community.
- Understand risks and limitations associated with diagnostic labeling.
Enhance mental health
- Identify personal self-care strategies using the Three Pillars of Self-Care: reflective, purposeful, and boundaries.
- Recognize when self-care is needed as a Mental Health First Aiders and how to integrate it into daily life.
- Commit to intentional self-care actions to maintain personal well-being as a Mental Health First Aider.

Schedule:

Thursday, September 17, 2026, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Format:

In Person

Who Should Attend?

This course is appropriate for Veterans, family members/relatives and friends of Veterans, RCMP members, health professionals, providers of Veteran services, and volunteers or other caring community members.

Trainer:

Sabrina Jouniaux-Romano

Trainer Bio:

After obtaining a Bachelor of Social Work and a Bachelor of Education, I had the opportunity to work in different areas of social work. After graduation, I worked with multi-handicapped children in a specialized medical institute, I also worked with the homeless community in an emergency shelter; and then took care of children/adolescents in a group home. After arriving in Canada, I was fortunate enough to lead a mental health project for the Acadian and francophone community in Nova Scotia, which allowed me to become a trainer and then a Master Trainer for Mental Health First Aid. I then went on to start working as a bilingual supervisor for Crisis text Line powered by Kids Help Phone, before starting as
a French training and delivery specialist for First Aid Mental Health and Changing Minds.