Mental Health Training

In every community there are people whom others naturally turn to for support. They are from all walks of life and are considered by others to be helpers. Helpers possess characteristics like empathy, care, and compassion. The Community Helpers Program identifies these helpers and offers training to strengthen their natural abilities. Helpers learn a variety of topics and skills including effective communication, self-care, coping with stress, knowing when to refer people to professional services, handling crisis situations, and suicide awareness.

In addition to developing skills and increasing knowledge, Helpers are introduced to community services and professional support. This connection bridges informal and formal support in the community, enabling helpers to refer peers and family to expert support when needed.

Ages 12+ (program modifies the age group) 

Community Conversation: Youth & Suicide Prevention

  1. Community Conversation: Youth & Suicide Prevention

Join us for an important Community Mental Health Conversation as the Tri-Region comes together to build a supportive and resilient community. This event aims to foster open discussions on mental health and suicide prevention for parents and caregivers.

Featuring experts from Dochas Psychological Services, WestView Primary Care Network, the Canadian Mental Health Association Alberta Division & Centre for Suicide Prevention, this conversation will provide residents with the opportunity to:

✅ Break the stigma surrounding mental health
✅ Recognize warning signs of distress
✅ Navigate difficult conversations around suicide with emotional awareness
✅ Connect with local resources

This is a safe and welcoming space for all community members to listen, share, and learn. Let’s work together to create a stronger, more resilient Tri-Region.

📅 Date: October 7, 2025
📍 Location: Zoom
⏰ Time: 6-7:30PM

REGISTRATION: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/community-conversation-youth-and-suicide-prevention-tickets-1632596493059?aff=oddtdtcreator 

Everyone is welcome. Let’s start the conversation.

SESSION RESOURCES:

 Dochas Summary Document 

 Preventing Youth Suicide Video

 Mental Health Resources

2. SAFETALK 

This 3.5 hour workshop will equip you to be more alert to someone thinking of suicide and better able to connect them with further help. The workshop emphasizes the importance of recognizing the signs, communicating with the person considering suicide and getting help or resources for the person. This workshop is not recommended for someone who has had a recent suicide loss. Participants can include but are not limited to: parents and caregivers; family and friends; youth aged 16 or older; natural helpers and advisors; educators and ministers; health practitioners; justice, law enforcers, emergency workers, and community volunteers.

Date: November 25, 2025

Time: 5:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m. * Please note: Dinner will be provided for participants.

Age: 16+

Cost: $20 (cost will be reimbursed upon completion of the training)

Registration: Community Social Development Programs - City of Spruce Grove

Contact: 780-962-7618 or csd@sprucegrove.org

Offered in partnership with Westview PCN, Town of Stony Plain, and Parkland County.

3. ASIST

ASIST is a two-day training designed to help family, friends, and community members identify someone at risk of suicide and provide them with the skills needed to make a life-saving intervention. The ASIST workshop is highly interactive, practical, and practice-oriented. It focuses on teaching suicide first-aid to help a person at risk stay safe and seek further help. This training is not recommended for anyone who has had a recent suicide loss.

When:  January 23 & 24, 2025

Time: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Age: 18+

Cost: $50 (cost will be refunded upon completion of the training)

Registration: Community Social Development Programs - City of Spruce Grove

Contact: 780-962-7618 or csd@sprucegrove.org

Offered in partnership with Westview PCN, Town of Stony Plain, Parkland County.

BounceBack is a free skill-building program from the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) designed to help adults and youth 15+ manage low mood, mild to moderate depression, anxiety, stress or worry. Working with workbooks and a trained coach to guide you and encourage you to reflect, BounceBack® can help you build skills to improve your mental health.

Find out more at: BounceBack®: A Free Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Program For Mental Health (cmha.ca)

The Well-being Course is an innovative, online learning experience designed to assist people achieve greater levels of mental health, well-being and life satisfaction and it is totally free.

It will help support you in understanding yourself better and help you make positive changes in your life. It can also connect you to valuable resources and others on the same journey that will provide you with the support you need and deserve to succeed.

Click on the link below to learn more, or register.

Register

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is the help provided to a person developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. Just as physical first aid is administered to an injured person before medical treatment can be obtained, MHFA is given until appropriate treatment is found or until the crisis is resolved.

The MHFA Canada program aims to improve mental health literacy, and provide the skills and knowledge to help people better manage potential or developing mental health problems in themselves, a family member, a friend or a colleague. There are three types of Mental Health First Aid courses offered: Basic, Youth, and Older Adults. 

The Town of Stony Plain will offer Mental Health First Aid training yearly, depending on the need and interest shown by community. Please email connect@stonyplain.com if you are interested in joining a list to be notified when the training becomes available.

There is currently free Mental Health Training available online.