MDSC has partnered with industry leaders to develop continuing education courses including:

• Destigmatizing Practices and Mental Illness: Nurses Working Together to Support Mental Health and Well-Being
• Mental Health and Wellness in the Legal Profession
• Training on Research Processes
• Combating Stigma for Physicians and other Health Professionals
• Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: A Primer for Primary Care Physicians

As health care professionals we are responsible for the care and safety of our clients/patients, which also includes advocating on their behalf. It is not uncommon for patients with mental health challenges to report having experienced stigmatizing behaviours, from not only the general public but from health care providers as well. As a patient advocate, you have the unique opportunity to help address the stigma associated with mental illness.

By engaging in this program you have an opportunity to learn about mental illness from a patient’s perspective. You will be guided in a self-reflective process to examine your own beliefs and behaviours while engaging with, learning and benefiting from the support of other health care providers. Examples of how you might respond to stigmatizing practices in the workplace also are provided to assist you as you move forward to help make a difference in the lives of those living with mental health challenges.

Please note: this module is NOT a pre-accredited MAINPRO M1 or MOC (Section 1) learning activity.

After completing this course you will be able to:

1. Define stigma, how it is expressed as well as its consequences;
2. Examine your attitudes, beliefs and behaviours toward persons with mental illness, i.e., engage in critical self-reflection;
3. Describe stigma and discrimination and integrate strategies to address individual, structural and systemic stigma (e.g., stigma by association) and related challenges to the elimination of stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness, such as the associated myths (social discourses), marginalizing language such as “them” and “us” dichotomies and the media portrayal of persons living with a mental illness, to name a few;
4. Describe and integrate strategies to address the social determinants of health and those factors that mitigate stigma and discrimination;
5. Explain approaches to stigma and discrimination that reflect an understanding of the factors, including the social determinants of health, that may intersect with mental illness to influence/shape stigma and discrimination (and health and well-being) e.g., substance use, poverty, gender, age, [dis]ability, sexual orientation, religion, geography, to name several;
   • Describe an increased level of comfort and interest in addressing mental illness and associated health problems as real [medical] illnesses that can be treated and managed and effectively combat the stigma of mental illness within one’s practice and organization; and
   • Explain the importance of the recovery model.

Welcome to Mental Health and Wellness in the Legal Profession, a national self-learning program designed to provide Canadian lawyers, judges and law students education, supports and resources to assist them in understanding mental health and addiction issues. In this program, you will acquire knowledge about mood disorders, causes, symptoms and treatment options, fostering positive prevention strategies, treatment and recovery strategies for depression, anxiety, addiction and stress, reducing stigmatizing behaviours, attitudes and effects, and offering support and resources for recovery and the maintenance of wellness. All of this is specifically formulated and tailored to the needs and issues facing legal professionals and their families.

Mental Health and Wellness in the Legal Profession was created as a result of a proactive and dynamic partnership between the Canadian Bar Association, the Mood Disorders Society of Canada and Bell Let’s Talk. It is the hope of these sponsors, as well as the drafters of this program, that participants will not only expand their own knowledge of these issues, but will then contribute to the building of a culture of wellness and self-care throughout the legal profession in Canada.

After completing this course you will be able to:

1. Recognize signs and symptoms of mental health and addiction challenges;
2. Describe stigma, both generally and with specific reference to the legal profession context;
3. Outline available treatment options and other resources; and
4. Discuss proactive and remedial coping strategies for those with mental health and addiction challenges.

This project was funded by an unrestricted educational grant from the Mood Disorders Society of Canada, Bell Let’s Talk, and the Canadian Bar Association. Financial support was also provided by a number of law societies across Canada, see the Acknowledgements (page 4) of the course for full details.

This program is accredited in all Canadian jurisdictions except British Columbia.

• Ethics/Professionalism hours in Nunavut = 4 hours
• Ethics/Professionalism hours everywhere else = 6 hours

People with lived experience can be invaluable allies in the knowledge translation and dissemination phases because they have experienced depression.

The objective of this education is to prepare lived experience participants with the knowledge to actively participate in a research team and communicate effectively with depression researchers and other mental health professionals.

Under the project management of the Mood Disorders Society of Canada, this education curriculum was developed by Barbara Everett, Ph.D. This three-day in person training session has eight modules and has been delivered in-person four times across Canada. Evaluations have been very positive.

In order to provide the training to a wider audience, we have now digitized the program modules and provide the training in an exciting online format, easy to access, and very engaging and enjoyable to participate in and learn from. Allowing you to benefit from the training regardless of your location.

This interactive online course intends to educate family physicians and specialists in the recognition of stigma related to mental illness. The course is designed to provide participants with an opportunity to recognize attitudes and behaviours that could potentially lead to stigma as well as provide an example of a practical clinical approach to helping doctors, other healthcare professionals and patients.

“Combating Stigma for Physicians and Other Health Professionals” is also introducing a fairly novel idea that we are not only after attitudinal change but also process or implementation change. This approach will address some of the challenges of stigma especially social distancing, healthy social contact and good communication.

Learning objectives
After completing this course you will be able to:

1. Examine your attitudes, beliefs and behaviours toward persons with mental health problems, towards mental health providers, and to the social context and structures of health care delivery
2. Identify mental health problems as biopsychosocial including real organic disease
3. Describe an organized approach to the treatment of mental health issues using simple practical skills and competencies that work within a busy clinical setting.
4. Develop an increased level of comfort and interest in addressing Mental Health problems and effectively combat the various types of Mental health stigma in one’s practice and health care system.

This program will help you recognize PTSD and the strategies available to help provide care to patients with this condition. The content in this CPD program is evidence-based and in accordance with the preferred learning formats identified by physicians. This course integrates didactic teaching, case-based scenarios, self-assessment, and discussion with fellow participants.

1. Define post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and recognize the signs and symptoms of PTSD according to DSM-5 criteria;
2. Describe the mental disorders, physical disorders, and behavioural problems that are often comorbid with PTSD;
3. Explain the rationale and principles of trauma-informed care, and strategies for its delivery;
4. Propose appropriate pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatment for PTSD; and
5. Identify online and other resources for patients suffering from PTSD and recognize the value of these resources to augment treatment of the patient.

This continuing professional development (CPD) program has been designed to consider the CanMEDS Physician Competency Framework, including the roles of: Medical Expert, Communicator, Collaborator, and Health Advocate.