Our Services

Mental Health Training

ASIST: Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training

Attending this two-day course will train you to intervene with an individual who is thinking about suicide.

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) is a two-day training in suicide first aid. ASIST teaches participants to recognize when someone may have thoughts of suicide and work with them to create a plan that will support their immediate safety. Although ASIST is widely used by healthcare providers, participants don’t need any formal training to attend the workshop—anyone 18 or older can learn and use the ASIST model.

Learning Objectives

Over the course of their two-day in-person training, ASIST participants learn to:

  • recognize that caregivers and people are affected by personal and societal attitudes about suicide;
  • provide life-assisting guidance to a person thinking about suicide in a flexible manner;
  • identify what needs to be included in a plan for safety for a person thinking about suicide;
  • demonstrate the skills required to provide suicide first aid to a person thinking about suicide;
  • appreciate the value of improving community resources including the way that they work together; and,
  • recognize that suicide prevention is broader than suicide intervention and includes life promotion and self care for people thinking about suicide, and for caregivers.

PLEASE NOTE:
- Attendees are required to fully attend and participate in the two-day in-person training from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to receive their certificate (ie. arrive on time, stay until each day is over, return after the breaks provided, etc.).
- This training is not recommended for people who have had a recent loss of a loved one by suicide. Ability to verbalize role-play statements regarding suicide is required. 

ASIST, normally $300 per person in community, will be FREE to currently registered students, faculty, and staff. However, participants may be subject to a fee if they no-show, late-cancel, or only attend one of the two days. 
 

Certification and Accreditation 

All participants who complete the course (14 hours of instruction time) will receive a certificate of participation.

ASIST is recognized by Canadian Accreditation Council Of Human Services (CACOHS) and the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB). Participants who have a current ASIST certificate can obtain 14 hours of Category A professional development credits. If you do not belong to ASWB, please check with your professional association to see if this training is eligible for continuing education/professional development credits.

Next training date: November 13th-14th 2025 . FULL- please email to be added to the shortlist. 

To register or to be added to the general waitlist for future dates:

  • U of L Staff, Faculty, currently registered students (internal) : email counselling.services@uleth.ca

  • Alumni and community members: for dates and locations offered in other cities (external) click here

     

MHFA- Essentials: Mental Health First Aid Essentials Training

Mental Health First Aid Registration Update

Thank you for your interest in Mental Health First Aid. We’re currently pausing registrations for November 2025 as we transition to a new and improved curriculum and determine the best format for course delivery moving forward. The information below will be updated with new course details once finalized. 

In the meantime, you are welcome to email counselling.services@uleth.ca to join the general waitlist to be notified once registration reopens. We appreciate your patience and look forward to offering this important training again soon.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) provides the knowledge, skills, and attitudes for participants to recognize changes in mental health, respond supportively, and apply practical actions for declining mental health and crisis situations. It helps participants build confidence, reduce stigma, and enhance their own mental health. 

MHFA Essentials is a one-day course focused on core knowledge and practical skills. Essentials offers a strong foundation in MHFA principles without formal assessment or certification. The practical skills of MHFA help you develop the confidence and peace of mind knowing you can support those around you, and your ability to self-care and prioritize your well-being while supporting others. Essentials does not lead to formal certification, rather, participants will be eligible to receive a Certificate of Completion. 

Throughout the course, participants will:

  • Increase Mental Health Awareness
  • Understand stigma, risks of labelling, and barriers to helping
  • Learn how to use the ALGES framework to support others
  • Learn effective communication techniques
  • Learn reflective Self-Awareness
  • Review mental health support resource mapping 

Certification is only available through the two-day MHFA Certification course. If you have taken MHFA Standard or MHFA Basic since September 30, 2023, an MHFA Bridge to Certification will be available in the coming weeks. 

Only 15 spots are available per training. 
 
MHFA Essentials Training is FREE and available to U of L staff, faculty, and currently registered students (normally $300 in-community). Participants may be subject to a fee if they no-show, late-cancel, or only attend part of the one day training.
 

Next Training Date: TBA, 2026

Registration deadline: TBA

To register or to be added to the shortlist or general waitlist, please email: counselling.services@uleth.ca

For more information on the new MHFA program, please click here. 

 

First Responder to Sexual Assault and Abuse Training™


Identify, Respond, and Refer
Developed by the Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services (AASAS) with support from the Government of Alberta and Women and Gender Equality Canada, this beginner yet comprehensive training builds the skills and confidence to respond effectively to disclosures of sexual assault and abuse.

Who Should Attend:
Professionals, paraprofessionals, and campus community members who may support individuals impacted by sexual violence.

Learning Outcomes:
Participants will learn to:

  • Define sexual violence and its various forms

  • Understand its short- and long-term impacts

  • Provide a safe, supportive first response

  • Challenge harmful myths and beliefs

  • Identify local resources and referral options

This Alberta-based workshop uses provincial resources and guidelines and is inclusive of the full continuum of sexual violence across the lifespan. 

PLEASE NOTE:
- Attendees are required to fully attend and participate in the two-day in-person training from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on both days in order to receive their certificate.

When offered in community, this course can cost up to $300, but we are able to offer it for FREE to currently registered students, faculty, and staff. Participants may be subject to a fee if they no-show, late-cancel, or only attend one of the two days. 

Next training date: December 16th-17th, 2025 . 

Registration deadline: December 8th, 2025

To Register: please visit MyExperience.uleth.ca or click here

 

Understanding & Responding to Sexual Violence Workshop

This 45 minute E-learning workshop provides an overview of different forms of sexual violence, defines consent, explains how to support individuals who have been affected by sexual violence, and gives practical information on sexual violence prevention. This unique E-learning was created by the Sexual Violence Prevention Educator to allow for a more accessible online experience , for individuals who want learn about the complexities and nuances of sexual violence. This training is offered to anyone who is apart of the University of Lethbridge community, upon completion you will receive a participation certificate.

If you want to take this training please click here.

TIM-PS: The Inquiring Mind Post Secondary

The Inquiring Mind post Secondary covers three main components: stigma reduction, resiliency skills, and the Mental Health Continuum Model. The Mental Health Continuum Model re-conceptualizes how one thinks and talks about mental health by categorizing signs and indicators of good to poor mental health under a four-colour continuum: green (healthy), yellow (reacting), orange (injured), and red (ill). The goals of the 4 hour training are to:

  • reduce stigma and negative attitudes towards those struggling with poor mental health
  • help participants maintain mental health and improve resilience and coping strategies
  • teach participants about the Mental Health Continuum Model
  • foster a supportive campus community
  • support others

Next training date: No upcoming trainings scheduled at this time. 

Email counselling.services@uleth.ca to be added to the general interest list.