Mental Health and Substance Use - Certificate
Overview
This comprehensive program is designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills and ethical foundations necessary for working in the multidisciplinary field of mental health and substance use support.
It integrates theoretical knowledge with practical applications to prepare students for diverse roles within the health care and social services sectors, with a focus on the specific needs of clients experiencing mental health and substance use challenges.
Health Care Access Program
Learn more about the fully funded Health Career Access Program (HCAP) with a guaranteed work placement offered by Interior Health. Access more information through the Province of BC.
To express your interest to Interior Health, please email your résumé.
You can also reach out to Jocelyn Schroeder for program details.
If seats are not filled by HCAP funded students, we will open seats for non-funded individuals. Add your name to our interest list.
Blended Online and In-Person Training
During the first 14 weeks of the program, students complete six online theory courses that are delivered in a blended format (asynchronous and synchronous), followed by an in-person practicum over 5-6 weeks in your home community and place of hire.
We offer flexible study options to help you make it work. Contact us for further details.
Program Summary
Module 1
Courses, Seven Weeks Online
- ADD 384 Addictions Theory and Practice
- HSER 257 Mental Health Issues: Practical Responses
- HSER 258 Fundamentals of Change I
Module 2
Courses, Seven Weeks Online
- SSW 157 Group Skills
- HSER 255 Professional Foundations for Human Services
- HSER 259 Fundamentals of Change II
Module 3
Practicum, Six Weeks in Person
Program Outcomes
1. Demonstrate professionalism in practice consistent with the code of ethics and standards of practice of
their respective disciplines
2. Use effective interpersonal skills including active listening, collaboration, self-awareness and conflict
resolution within multi-faceted roles and contexts
3. Understand and respect cultural differences and multiple ways of knowing
4. Practice with an ethic of inclusivity
5. Establish and maintain wellness strategies to assure work/life balance both personally and professionally
6. Engage in critical thinking, problem solving and reflective practice
Admission Requirements
BC High school graduate or equivalent; or
Academic mature student category: 19 years or older at the start of the student’s first academic term
1. ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS:
English Studies 12 or equivalent*, with a minimum of 60% or higher
2. SPECIFIC ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS FOR THOSE WHO ARE SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNERS
As English is the language of study in BC, those students who are Second Language Learners must
meet one of the English language proficiency assessments outlined in Policy 8611 at an appropriate
level to be accepted into this program.
3. PRE-PRACTICUM REQUIREMENTS
a) Applicants must be able to demonstrate compliance with Public Health Officer's orders with respect
to applicable vaccine requirements (must have completed before practicum if the practice area
requires it).
b) Ministry of Justice Criminal Record Check (must be completed before starting practicum)
A current criminal record check from the Ministry of Justice must be completed within 90 days of practicum start date. Some types of criminal records may limit or prohibit acceptance in field placement; acceptance into field placement is a requirement for program promotion.
APPLICATION PROCESS
General Application Process
Before an applicant's file is completed, the following must be received:
a) Selkirk College application form
b) Official copy of secondary and post-secondary transcripts
1. In order to progress to the next module, the following requirements must be met.
a) Completion of all courses in the module with a minimum overall cumulative GPA of 2.00 and a grade of a “C” or better in all module courses.
2. Promotion to practicum will be determined by the following criteria:
a) A grade of "C" or better in all required courses as defined in Part II, C, Graduation Requirements.
b) Some types of criminal records may limit or prohibit a student's acceptance in field placement agencies. Ability to be accepted into field placement is a requirement for admission and promotion.
3. A student’s performance will be reviewed by program faculty when:
a) Grades in one or more courses fall below a “C”.
b) Unacceptable behaviour, inappropriate interpersonal skills, and/or patterns of absence are displayed.
c) On probation.
4. Considerations for practicum placement:
a) To avoid a conflict of interest, students are expected to inform instructors of agencies where family and/or personal connections exist.
b) Practicum placements will be arranged by a program placement coordinator.
c) Agency staff will be informed if a student has refused to sign a waiver authorizing the College to share personal information about the student with agency staff.
5. Students will not be placed in practicum based on the following:
a) The student has not demonstrated readiness for practicum placement.
b) Two agencies refuse to accept the student in practicum placement.
c) The student lacks means of transportation.
4. Practicum evaluation will be based on:
a) A review of the student's performance in relation to stated course competencies.
b) A joint review comprised of college instructor, agency supervisor and student.
c) Completed practicum assignments.
In order to graduate with Honors students must meet all program requirements with no grades less than a B- and a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.
Courses
ADD384 - Addictions Theory and Practice
ADD 384 Addictions Theory and Practice is designed to provide students with an overview of current and emerging research/expertise in the field. The course will cover diverse definitions and understandings of addiction, as informed by current findings in the fields of neuroscience and social science. Pharmacology basics and the biological, psychological, social, spiritual and environmental dimensions of addiction will be reviewed from a number of perspectives. Current research on attachment, trauma and brain development will be examined in relation to addiction from both developmental and environmental perspectives. A critical examination of the link between policy and practice provides context for the emergence of recovery strategies such as harm reduction and motivational techniques. Special attention will be given to the role of colonization and stigma as it is experienced through ethnicity, gender and culture, and the important role of advocacy in this context.
HSER257 - Mental Health Issues: Practical Responses
HSER 257 Mental Health Issues: Practical Responses provides instruction in a variety of rehabilitative and treatment modalities used in work with individuals facing mental health challenges. Attitudes toward mental health and substance use problems and how they impact helper effectiveness are explored in a supportive milieu. Evidence-based practices such as Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Harm Reduction are used as frameworks for the development of skills and knowledge. Students are introduced to strategies for overcoming stigma and supporting client empowerment in a variety of community and facility settings.
HSER258 - Fundamentals of Change I
HSER 258 Fundamentals of Change I is designed to assist the student in developing self-awareness as a helper, and in developing both an understanding and a beginning level of skill. Students are required to participate in exercises, role plays, simulations and video taping of interviews and counselling sessions, in order to accomplish the course objectives.
SSW157 - Group Skills
SSW 157 Group Skills, offers knowledge and skill development that can be applied to a large number of settings: in the workplace as a team member; working with specific client groups including children, adolescents, families, special interest groups; leading and/or participating in learning and discussion groups; planning, implementing and evaluating community development work. Effective social service workers need a good understanding of working in groups and group facilitation skills. The focus will be on increasing students' awareness of their own interaction in groups and on demonstrating their ability to use effective facilitation skills with groups.
HSER255 - Professional Foundations for Human Services
HSER 255 Professional Foundations for Human Services explores foundations of Human Service Worker professional practice through an examination of the issues surrounding professional identity, ethical practice, and the interdisciplinary team approach. The skills required for communicating as a professional and as a team member, both oral and written, are developed throughout the course.
HSER259 - Fundamentals of Change II
HSER 259 Fundamentals of Change II is designed to assist students to build advanced helping skills on the base developed in HSER 258. Students will learn to use their helping relationships and interpersonal communication skills within the framework of the helping process model. Students are required to demonstrate their skill development on video tape, as well as demonstrate analytical skills which will require both self-awareness and knowledge of the helping model. The focus is on the skills required to carry out action planning, support of action and evaluation of outcomes in helping interventions.
SSW168 - Field Work II
SSW 168 Field Work II is a full-time field placement for five weeks following the winter semester that affords the student the opportunity to practice the skills learned in the previous two semesters. Field placement provides an opportunity for students to demonstrate competency required for permanent employment in Social Service Agencies. On-line weekly seminars will support this practicum.
Tuition & Fees
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