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The School of Community and Health Studies provides an Addiction and Mental Health Worker program designed to equip students with professional skills for supporting individuals facing mental health and substance-use challenges. This program focuses on teaching evidence-based approaches for screening, assessment, and intervention while considering diverse cultural and community contexts.
Through Addiction and Mental Health Work courses, students develop competencies to assist individuals, families, and small groups in various settings including addiction treatment facilities, mental health organizations, homeless shelters, and crisis centers. The curriculum emphasizes advocacy for fair access to health services, preventive care, and harm reduction strategies. With a focus on reconciliation, the program incorporates Indigenous perspectives on mental health and addiction treatment.
The program combines classroom learning with practical experience, featuring a second-year field placement where students work multiple days weekly under professional supervision at social service agencies. This hands-on component allows students to collaborate in interprofessional teams, gaining real-world experience in client support through case management, assessments, referrals, and navigating healthcare systems.