Mental Health and Addictions (Certificate)

Admissions

One of:

• C+ in English 12  
• C in English 12 Camosun Alternative   

And all of:

• Statement of Intention - Submission of a 300 or more word statement outlining career goals and motivation for entering the program. 
• Info Session - Attendance at a scheduled Mental Health and Addictions program Information Session within 18 months prior to the start of the program. If you are unable to attend a scheduled session, please contact the Program Leader.
• Complete student declaration survey after attending the program information session (Link for student declaration will be given at the end of the information session)

Learning Outcomes

At the completion of the program, students will be able to:

• Use effective introspection, critical thinking, and ethical decision-making skills in practice.
• Apply knowledge of mental health and substance use their practice.
• Apply appropriate frameworks to guide practice and consider multiple factors that influence individuals and families experiencing mental illness and/or substance use.
• Apply evidence-based support strategies and crisis intervention within the contexts of mental health and substance use services.
• Use a variety of verbal and written communication skills and strategies to develop and maintain effective and collaborative, relationships with individuals, groups, and interprofessional teams.
• Identify and access community services, advocate for individuals and families, and support individuals to advocate for themselves.
• Effectively meet the demands of the professional role, including performing independently, demonstrating accountability, resolving conflict, and integrating feedback.
• Use knowledge of the spectrum of diversity in Canadian society to support individuals experiencing mental illness and/or substance use.
• Develop and sustain therapeutic relationships to promote safe, healthy, and non-threatening environments that facilitates dignity and growth of individuals.

Curriculum

Program Participation Requirements

• Students registered in partially online program courses must participate in an orientation to distance education systems and tools prior to or during the first classes of the program.
• Students must provide evidence they do not have active TB. Acceptable evidence is a negative TB skin test or a negative chest x-ray. Evidence must be dated no more than six months before practicum start date. Students are responsible for the cost of testing. An additional TB test is required after each possible exposure to TB and/or travel within an area where there is a known prevalence of TB.
• Students must provide evidence of their immunization status.
• Criminal Record Check is required.
• The Provincial Practice Education Guidelines require students to complete the BC Provincial Violence Prevention Training prior to clinical/practicum placements. This training will occur during the program. Students will be notified in sufficient time for the training to occur and this training will be provided by a third party. Students will be responsible for any associated costs. Failure to comply with this training could result in the health care organization, community partner or the college barring the individual from the clinical/practicum setting until required training is completed. This could impact a student’s ability to successfully complete the clinical/practicum placement. Violence prevention training from other provinces does not transfer in and meet the requirements.

Program Completion Requirements

• Achieve a minimum of “C” in every course in the program and a “COM” in MHA 140 .
• All courses must completed within 36 months of starting the program.