Mental Health and Addictions Worker

Type: Ontario College Diploma Length: 2 Years Partner: Canadore College Delivery: Virtual Delivery Next Intakes: September 2022 Locations: Virtual Delivery Tuition: $6,686.48* for 2-YEAR DIPLOMA *Subject to change

OVERVIEW

The Mental Health and Addiction Worker program respects the histories and vulnerabilities of Indigenous Peoples, while preparing students - culturally, intellectually, emotionally and experientially - for work in this challenging and in-demand field.

Community mental health and addiction workers assist individuals with mental health challenges, housing and addiction issues. They support skills training, daily living activities for improved quality of life, stability and independence for their clients. These mental health professionals discuss, isolate and assess problems, develop a flexible plan of action, ensure basic needs are met, network clientele with needed services, and provide crisis intervention as necessary. They also act as coordinators for volunteers.

Students in the Mental Health and Addiction Worker program will explore Indigenous community realities within the context of the mental health and wellness field. Indigenous ways of knowing and understanding the world are examined and presented with knowledge and skills relative to Indigenous culture, values and practices. Students learn from an Indigenous perspective through intensive field placements that focus on personal growth and skills application.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

• Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent, including Grade 12 English (ENG4C or ENG4U).

MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION WORKER STUDIES:

• Foundations of psychology and sociology
• Crisis intervention
• Recovery strategies and relapse prevention
• Abnormal psychology
• Dynamics of chemical dependency
• Fundamentals of pharmacology

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES:

• Addiction treatment centres and prevention programs
• Mental health facilities
• Hospitals
• Correctional facilities
• Recovery or rehabilitation homes
• Community housing
• Volunteer coordinators

CURRICULUM

COURSE LIST

SEMESTER ONE

• CMM 125 College Communication
• MHA 180 Introduction to Substance Use
• HSP 105 Interviewing and Helping Skills I
• HSP 150 Multiculturalism in Canada
• HSP 165 Mental Health Across the Lifespan
• PSY 200 Lifespan Development
• SOC 100 Foundations of Sociology
• GENED General Education Course

SEMESTER TWO

• CMM 230 Workplace Communications
• CLT 100 Canada's First Peoples
• HUM 219 Group Work
• MHA 213 Interventions for Mental Health and Addictions
• HSP 160 Interviewing and Helping Skills II
• HSP 104 Human Service and the Law
• MHA 113 Older Persons' Mental Health
• MHA 123 Children and Youth Mental Health

SEMESTER THREE

• HSP 170 Evaluating Information
• HSP 294 Fieldwork Preparation
• MHA 235 Pharmacology for Mental Health and Addictions
• MHA 249 Cognitive Behaviour Techniques
• MHA 223 Interventions for Mental Health and Addictions II
• MHA 250 Trauma-Informed Relapse Prevention & Crises Intervention
• GENED General Education Course

SEMESTER FOUR

• MHA 247 Fieldwork Integration
• MHA 246 Field Placement

FIELD PLACEMENT

Your program includes field placement and volunteer opportunities that will give you hands-on experience!

Over the course of your program, you will complete a 420-hour field placement that focuses on practicing on working within an interdisciplinary team to provide client support in mental health settings. These real-world experiences are mandatory and are designed to allow you to integrate classroom teachings with professional practice.

Through your placements, you will gain valuable experience that will help you understand the diverse roles, settings, and responsibilities of a Mental Health and Addiction Worker.

ACCREDITATION

Graduates can apply to register with the Canadian Addiction Counsellors Certification Federation (CACCF)

Note: Check with the institution regarding start/end dates, prices, and delivery method. These may vary according to program, section, and/or semester.