Certificate in Mental Health Promotion and Protection
This certificate is awarded in conjunction with an existing degree at Cape Breton University.
It is designed to increase awareness of common mental health issues, develop knowledge and skills to promote and protect mental wellness, increase confidence in talking about mental health, and help create a community of caring, all while earning your degree.
This certificate is aimed at developing mental health advocates, and as such is focused on promoting and protecting mental wellness across the life span. The graduate will gain knowledge and practical skills to enhance individuals’ ability to work through adversity and challenges, and to manage stress in ways that promote and protect good mental health. The graduate will increase their knowledge and awareness of common mental health problems and of mental health support services in their community. In addition, the graduate will gain confidence in having conversations about mental health, and learn helpful strategies to encourage individuals to seek mental health support when appropriate.
Program Requirements: 18 credits
Required: 12 credits
3 credits – PSYC-2503: Foundations in Abnormal Psychology
3 credits – PSYC-3303: Positive Psychology
3 credits – PSYC-3304: Community Psychology
3 credits – PSYC-3504: Applied Mental Health Support
Electives: Choose 6 credits from the following:
3 credits – AN/S-2206: Everyday Encounters and Emergent Realities
3 credits – AN/S-2207: Thinking about Health & Illness
3 credits – PSYC-2251: Drugs and Behaviour
3 credits – PSYC-2253: Health Psychology
3 credits – PSYC-2504: Indigenous People’s Psychology
3 credits – PSYC-2601: Child Development
3 credits – PSYC-2603: Adolescent and Adult Development
3 credits – PSYC-2605: Gerontology
3 credits – AN/S-3215: Negotiating Selves and Social Identities
3 credits – AN/S-3216/POLS-3216: Bldg. Resilient Communities
3 credits – PSYC-3501: Abnormal Psychology
3 credits – PSYC-3651: Human Sexuality
3 credits – PSYC-4504: Topics in Mental Health
Additional Requirements
Mental Health Promotion
Students must have experience with presenting on mental wellness issues in a public forum at least three (3) times. This provision will be interpreted in light of the opportunities available to present on mental wellness issues. For an oral or poster presentation to satisfy this requirement, the student must be the actual presenter or co-presenter.
Examples of qualifying presentations include:
- In community presentation (open meeting, CBC…)
- Informative display (video, infographic …)
- Academic presentations (conference poster or oral presentation…)
Presenting as part of a course will not satisfy this requirement, unless that presentation was open to the public (not just to members of the class).
Engagement
20 hours combined from the following:
- Appropriate work or volunteer on campus (e.g. Peer Supporter, Women’s Centre, Pride and Allies Centre)
- Appropriate work or volunteer in community (e.g. YMCA, Glace Bay Town House, Whitney Pier Youth Club).
The Career Services unit will be instrumental in helping a student find the required opportunities and document the experience (see appendix).
Students are assigned to a faculty member who follows the students and meets on a regular basis for a debrief and to reinforce the learning goals of the placement. Students are encouraged to write appropriate learning goals at the beginning of the placement to ensure the focus of their time relates to some aspect of the certificate. A faculty member could follow a group of students and meet with them as a group – this way the students share and learn from each other’s experience.
Notes:
The certificate will be adjudicated by the four-member Mental Health Supporter Committee (MHSC). The MHSC will be established annually by the Dept. of Psychology. The committee will consist of two faculty members of the Department, and one from either the departments of L’nu, Political and Social Studies, Nursing or Psychology. The fourth member will come from the community and must have mental health counselling experience (e.g., MSW, Masters in Clinical Psychology, or MA/MEd in Counselling with a Nova Scotia registered counselling therapist designation, minimum).
Appendix:
Career Services can be of assistance in helping students to secure a 20-hour volunteer placement via the following:
- Work together with faculty to provide students with a placement which will allow the student to supplement their learning with hands-on community-based experience.
- Workshops providing information in the areas of professional development, job search and resume preparation, all geared towards how to approach potential organizations and succeed during placement, if required.
- Meet with students one-on-one to discuss volunteer-related goals and expected outcomes and to review required process and related documentation. It is important to note that as with all Work Integrated Learning programs, staff will provide necessary tools to students so that they can secure their placement. Once equipped with tools, the student is responsible for securing the placement. Career Services staff and faculty can intervene, if necessary.
- Perform site visits mid-way through the placement.
- Work with the organization to complete final evaluation.
- Provide documents such as Learning Contracts, Site Visit forms, Evaluations, Risk Assessment documents and any other relevant materials.