University of Guelph Mental Health Training

2025-26 University of Guelph Mental Health Training Programs

The following training programs are available for current University of Guelph students, staff, and faculty. Students can see currently available training opportunities on GryphLife [1], and Faculty and Staff should check the Learning & Development event calendar [2].

Looking for a training for your team or department? Email mentalhealth.training@uoguelph.ca [3] to book a training or discuss which option is suitable for your group.

Upcoming Trainings:

LivingWorks START Suicide Prevention Training
- Available On-Demand - Email mentalhealth.training@uoguelph.ca [4] to be granted access.

Beyond the Books: Mental Health Literacy Training (Virtual)
- If you are unable to attend the current sessions and are interested in hearing about future opportunities, please email mentalhealth.training@uoguelph.ca [5]to be added to the list.
- REGISTRATION OPEN
  - Friday, July 25, 2025 (3:00-4:30pm on campus): Register here [6]
  - Monday, August 22, 2025 (3:00-4:30pm on campus): Register here [7]

safeTALK Suicide Prevention Training
- If you are unable to attend the current sessions and are interested in hearing about future opportunities, please email mentalhealth.training@uoguelph.ca [8]to be added to the list.
- REGISTRATION OPEN
  - Thursday, July 31, 2025 (1:00-4:30pm on campus): Register here [9]

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)
- Upcoming 2025 Dates:
  - July 9th and 10th from 8:30 - 4:45pm. Register Now! [10]
  - December 3rd and 4th
- To be notified when registration opens for either session, please email mentalhealth.training@uoguelph.ca [11]to be added to the list.
  - Note: ASIST is a 2-day training, and you must be able to attend both days in full.

Mental Health First Aid
- June 26th from 9:00am - 4:30pm. Register Now! [12]
  - Note: In addition to the full-day training, a 2-hour online module must be completed during the two weeks before the training.
  - If you are unable to attend the current sessions and are interested in hearing about future opportunities, please email mentalhealth.training@uoguelph.ca [8]to be added to the list.

More Feet on the Ground

More Feet on the Ground is an educational website on how to recognize, respond and refer students experiencing mental health issues on campus.

Recommended for: All members of the University community, including students, staff and faculty.
Registration: Complete the online module independently at morefeetontheground.ca [13]
Cost: None
Length: Less than 30 minutes

Beyond the Books

Beyond the Books is a face-to-face session that will first provide participants with general information on the prevalence of mental challenges and illness. It will then help participants to identify signs of troubling behaviour and give them skills to engage in a preliminary discussion to determine if referral to a professional is necessary. Participants will also learn how and where to refer appropriately in a compassionate and effective manner. This session is designed for individuals who do not have ongoing relationships with individuals but whose roles are such that they may have one-off, in-depth conversations.

Recommended for: Individuals who may be in positions to see behaviour and have conversations with students, but have no responsibility for the individuals, nor involved in regularly addressing mental health issues. Examples include: Custodians, Hospitality Staff, Instructors (faculty, TA’s, and Sessionals), Administrative Assistants, Residence Desk Staff and Porters. All U of G Students, staff and faculty are welcome to participate!
Registration: Email mentalhealth.training@uoguelph.ca

Cost: None

Length: 1.5 hours
Completion of More Feet on the Ground is recommended. [13]

Trauma-Informed Care: Connecting with Compassion - Launching Fall 2024!

This two-hour, in-person training is designed to help all staff and faculty increase their knowledge and awareness about trauma and its impacts. The training provides strategies for implementing the Six Principles of Trauma-Informed Care, including self-regulation and self-care practices, to improve competency in working with and supporting students who have experienced trauma.

This training consists of four modules; 1) Realizing the prevalence of trauma, 2) Recognizing the effects of trauma, 3) Responding: From knowledge to practice, and 4) Self-Regulation and self-care practices.

Recommended for: Any staff and faculty who interact with students, whether formally (such as Instructors, Adminstrative Assistants, those in 1-1 advising/support roles, etc.) or informally (such as Hospitality Staff, Custodians, etc.). This training is not currently offered to students.

Registration: Email mentalhealth.training@uoguelph.ca [14] to book a personalized session for your department or team.

Cost: None

Length: 2 Hours

LivingWorks Start

LivingWorks Start is an online alertness training that prepares anyone, regardless of prior experience or training, to recognize when someone is thinking about suicide and connect them to help and support.

Recommended for: Individuals who are not mental health experts but who might have on-going relationships with people who have mental health issues and/or where the individual is in a position of authority. Examples might include: Faculty Advisors and Graduate Assistants, Chairs/Directors, Deans, Supervisors, RAs, varsity coaches, Program Counsellors, Union/employee group leaders, individuals involved in Human Resources, and Faculty and Academic Staff Relations. All U of G Students, staff and faculty are welcome to participate!
Registration: Email mentalhealth.training@uoguelph.ca to request access
Cost: None
Length: 1.5 hours

safeTALK

Designed by Living Works, SafeTALK is a 3.5 hours alertness training and certification that prepares anyone, regardless of prior experience or training, to become a suicide-alert helper. The SafeTALK trainer will demonstrate the importance of suicide alertness, assist participants to identify ways people invite help, and connect them with resources to help them when they are at risk.

Examples include: Examples include Faculty Advisors and Graduate Assistants, Chairs/Directors, Deans, Supervisors, RA’s, varsity coaches, Program Counsellors, Union/employee group leaders, individuals involved in Human Resources, and Faculty and Academic Staff Relations.

Registration: mentalhealth.training@uoguelph.ca

Cost: None

Length: 3.5 hours

Beyond the Books - Level 2

Developed in-house, this 1.5 hour training builds on concepts and skills from both Beyond the Books and SafeTALK/LivingWorks START. This training is designed to provide an opportunity for students/faculty/staff to refresh their knowledge and skills on how to approach conversations around mental health concerns and suicide. This training will provide an overview of main concepts from both the Beyond the Books and SafeTALK/LivingWorks START trainings and will introduce some strategies for effective communication in difficult situations. This training will conclude with participants engaging in several scenario-based discussions and activities, to allow for time to practice.

Recommended for: Individuals who have previously completed Beyond the Books and/or safeTALK/LivingWorks Start and are looking to further develop and enhance their skills in dealing with mental health and suicide-related conversations.

Cost: None

Length: 1.5 hours

Mental Health First Aid

Developed by the Mental Health Commission Canada, this full day (plus 2-hour online module) certification course focuses on the four most common mental health disorders including substance-related, mood-related, anxiety and trauma-related, and psychotic disorders.

Recommended for: Individuals for whom those in distress are referred to, or who have direct responsibilities for assisting those experience significant difficulties. These are not mental health professionals per se, but who are expected to have professional competency in understanding and monitoring situations where mental health forms an important component of dynamics and/or individuals who work outside of normal business hours and who may need to deal with a crisis situation without available professional support. Examples might include staff in Occupational Health and Wellness, Health Services, Residence Managers, and Campus Safety Office.

Note: We are currently prioritizing staff and faculty registrations. Students will be able to participate in this training if space remains.

Registration: See above for upcoming dates, or contact mentalhealth.training@uoguelph.ca to be contacted about future dates!

Cost: None

Length: 1 Day + 2-hour online module

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)

Developed by Living Works, ASIST is a two-day interactive workshop that 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.

Recommended for: Individuals for whom those in distress are referred, or who have direct responsibilities for assisting those experiencing significant difficulties. These are not mental health professionals per se, but who are expected to have professional competency in understanding and monitoring situations where mental health forms an important component of dynamics and/or individuals who work outside of normal business hours and who may need to deal with a crisis situation without available professional support.  Examples might include staff in Occupational Health and Wellness, Health Services, Residence Life Managers, and Campus Safety Office.

Registration: mentalhealth.training@uoguelph.ca

Cost: None

Length: 2 Days

Mental Health Module Series [15]

This series of online mental health modules is freely accessible, and aims to improve students' education on a number of topics related to mental health and mental illness.

These trainings are offered through the Student Mental Health Network [16].

File attachments:

TIC Handout.docx [17]