Calendar Description

This five-course certificate program will provide interdisciplinary learners who are working in mental health practice or those interested in this area an opportunity to acquire the knowledge and competencies necessary to work in a variety of mental health settings within facilities, agencies and communities.

This mental health practice program will integrate theoretical constructs from best practices in the mental health field with the technical and behavioural competencies required for interdisciplinary practice.

Elective Courses

Students may take HLTH 4411 and HLTH 4421 as elective credits without applying for admission into the certificate program upon approval of the Associate Dean and/or designate. To complete remaining courses in the certificate program, students must be admitted into the program.

Admission Requirements

One of the following:

• Current employment in a health care, criminal justice, social services or treatment facility setting OR
• Graduation from a certificate, diploma or bachelor’s degree program in health and human services OR
• Permission of the associate dean or designate OR
• Fourth-year standing in TRU's Nursing program or permission from the School of Nursing OR
• Eligibility to take a 4000-level course

Additional Requirements

• Official transcript should be sent to oladmissions@tru.ca
• After program admission and prior to enrolment in the practicum course, a completed Consent to a Criminal Record Check (CRC) form

Residency Requirements

A minimum of six TRU credits (distance courses; this program is not offered on campus)

Certificate Requirements

• HLTH 4411, Introduction to Mental Health (3)
• HLTH 4421, Assessment and Intervention Approaches to Mental Health Problems (3)
• HLTH 4531, Assessment and Intervention Approaches in Concurrent Disorders (3)
• HLTH 4441, Population Based Mental Health Assessment and Intervention (3)
• HLTH 4551, Directed Studies Practicum in Substance Use and Concurrent Disorders (3)

Prior to registering in HLTH 4551, you must complete all theory courses, with a GPA of 2.00 or higher over all courses and submit a Request for CRC form.

The program coordinator, with your input, arranges a practicum placement, based on availability and resources in the community that you select. It consists of a total of 96 hours and is completed on a part-time or full-time basis. You may need to relocate at your expense if suitable service agencies are unavailable near where you live. Acceptance into this program does not guarantee a practicum placement.

Graduation Requirements

Completion of all theory courses and HLTH 4551 with a GPA of 2.00 or higher over all courses.

Typical completion time is within two years. Courses are sequential and taken one at a time.

Acknowledgement
The funding to develop this program was received from the Interior Health Authority (IHA) in recognition of the need to address the strategic priorities addressed in the BC Ministry of Health's Setting Priorities for the B.C. Health System.