This self-paced online course provides caregivers with a strong foundation for understanding mental health conditions and supporting individuals with compassion, confidence, and professionalism. 

Covering the same core material as the live Mental Health Level 1 class, learners move through the course at their own pace while building practical skills they can apply immediately. 

Topics include common mental health disorders, stigma and myths, trauma-informed care, effective communication, challenging behaviors, and suicide awareness and prevention. The course also emphasizes caregiver boundaries, self-care, and knowing when to seek additional support. 

esigned for flexibility without compromising depth, this training equips caregivers to provide respectful, person-centered care while supporting their own well-being.

Learning Objectives:

1. Define common mental disorders and recognize their symptoms, such as anxiety disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, schizophrenia, eating disorders, OCD, and related conditions

2. Identify stigma, myths, and contributing factors affecting individuals with mental disorders

3. Apply the three-step approach to challenging behaviors:
   Stop, Identify, and Take Action

4. Use effective communication strategies, including active listening, respectful communication, non-verbal awareness, and adapting interactions for specific disorders

5. Recognize suicide risk factors and warning signs, and know how to respond, including how to talk with someone who may be thinking about suicide

6. Support individuals through crisis management, de-escalation, and identifying triggers that lead to crisis situations

7. Identify strategies for responding to specific behavioral challenges, such as aggression, hallucinations, withdrawal, and wandering

8. Demonstrate awareness of professional boundaries and the importance of assertive, non-confrontational interactions