The Mental Health and Addictions Support Worker Certificate Program will provide entry-level competencies for employment in the field of mental health and addictions. There is an increasing demand for mental health and addictions support workers. The Certificate program aims to prepare students to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team focusing on client treatment and rehabilitation. Graduates of the program can choose to work in a variety of settings including institutional, community and residential.
The Ashton College Mental Health and Addictions Support Worker Certificate is proudly accredited by the Canadian Addiction Counsellors Certification Federation (CACCF), which is internationally recognized as the gold standard provider in addiction credentialing both in Canada and on the international stage. Accreditation means the program meets the criteria and competencies required for both Canadian and International Certifications.
Graduates of the Mental Health and Addictions Support Worker Certificate will satisfy the education requirements to become a Canadian Certified Addiction Counsellor (CCAC) or an International Certified Alcohol and Drug Counsellor (ICADC). Graduates will also be able to count 120 hours from their studies towards part of their clinical supervision time required for certification. The CCAC and ICADC designation requires you as part of the process of obtaining your certification, to write and pass an exam through CACCF.
Upon completion of this program, the successful student will have reliably demonstrated the ability to:
Brief Course Description
This course introduces students to the study of mental health, mental illnesses and substance use. A wide variety of issues will be explored including patterns of distribution, risk factors and efforts made by society to prevent and treat mental health issues
Course Prerequisites
None.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this course, the successful student will have reliably demonstrated the ability to:
Lessons
Brief Course Description
This course introduces students to the assessment and intervention of mental illnesses. Students will look at the various treatment options available, as well as the barriers to treatment for vulnerable populations. Students will explore how to manage a mental health crisis, and the appropriate language to use when working with individuals with mental health and substance use disorders.
Course Prerequisites
Completion of MHASW 01.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this course, the successful student will have reliably demonstrated the ability to:
Lessons
Brief Course Description
This course will focus on providing support to individuals and their families who are living with both mental illness and substance use disorders. Students will gain insight into how factors like gender, sexual diversity, race and culture can influence the treatment of clients and their families.
Course Prerequisites
Completion of MHASW 02.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this course, the successful student will have reliably demonstrated the ability to:
Lessons
Brief Course Description
This course examines the concepts of the reduction of risk and harms associated with mental health and addictions. Participants will also examine how health promotion, prevention, and harm reduction have influenced mental health and addictions policies and the structure and the delivery of services to individuals, families and communities.
Course Prerequisites
Completion of MHASW 03.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this course, the successful student will have reliably demonstrated the ability to:
Lessons
Brief Course Description
This course offers students the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills to assist individuals in mental health and addiction settings. Emphasis will be on developing the student as a responsible practitioner as part of an interdisciplinary team.
Course Prerequisites
Completion of MHASW 04.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this course, the successful student will have reliably demonstrated the ability to:
Brian Comer has worked in inpatient acute psychiatry and inpatient withdrawal management for a number of years. Currently, he is an elected Member of the Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia, determined to improve mental health and addictions policies in his province. His key areas of focus are reducing stigma, increasing access, and creating mental health parity. He is a passionate educator who is dedicated to improving his community for future generations. Brian currently lives in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, with his wife and two children.
Jessica Gill (she/her) is currently pursuing her Master of Arts Counselling Psychology while also working as a Substance Use Prevention and Health Promotion Worker. Jessica has been working in the mental health and substance use field for 10+ years, with experience in Alberta and British Columbia. Her experience includes working in both inpatient and outpatient substance use programs. Through her experiences, she has worked on multidisciplinary teams, supporting diverse clientele.
Vanessa Kinch is a Registered Psychiatric Nurse who has worked in mental health and addictions for the last ten years. She has experience with both inpatient and outpatient programs. In the last few years, she has worked as an instructor to help teach and guide new nursing students, specifically with a focus on mental health and addictions. Vanessa is passionate about teaching and looks forward to sharing her knowledge and experience with her students.
Annick has an undergrad in Human Services and has been working with vulnerable populations across the mental health and social services field for 20+ years. She believes in a person-centred lens, where individuals are the experts in their recovery, and honours that everyone has a story. Currently, Annick is a contractor providing Prevention, Outreach and Community Engagement for Gambling Support BC.
Amrit pursued graduate studies in developmental psychology and has many years of experience in the mental health and addictions field. She has worked with diverse populations including human trafficking survivors and women in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver. Her current position is in healthcare, working to improve the quality of processes and systems. Amrit is excited to bring her experiences and knowledge from the field into the classroom.
Melissa Toews (she/her) has been a Registered Psychiatric Nurse for over eight years and has worked in various frontline and health care leadership/management roles in the Interior BC, Northern BC, Northern Alberta, Nunavut, and Vancouver. She is currently working in Executive Health Care Regional Management while also volunteering as a crisis responder for the National Crisis Text Line (powered by Kids Help Phone).
Jeremy Williams is a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor and Canadian Certified Addictions Counsellor who has worked in the field as a Mental Health Worker, Addiction Support Worker, Youth Detox Worker and Community Liaison Worker. Jeremy works part-time in a small private practice and he is the former Vice President of the Board of Directors for the Association of Cooperative Counselling Therapists of Canada.
*Subject to change without notice
Are you a domestic student?
You must prove the following:
Are you a domestic student?
You must show your language proficiency in ONE of the following ways:
Approved Countries
American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guam, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malta, Mauritius, Montserrat, New Zealand, Nigeria, Seychelles, Sierre Leone, Singapore, South Africa, St Helena, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & The Grenadines, Tanzania, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States of America, US Virgin Islands, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Approved English Language Proficiency Tests and Scores
Are you an international student?
You must prove the following:
Are you an international student?
You must show your language proficiency in ONE of the following ways:
Approved Countries
American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guam, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malta, Mauritius, Montserrat, New Zealand, Nigeria, Seychelles, Sierre Leone, Singapore, South Africa, St Helena, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & The Grenadines, Tanzania, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States of America, US Virgin Islands, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Approved English Language Proficiency Tests and Scores
Do you identify as a mature student?
To qualify, you must meet the following requirements:
Application Requirements
Mature Students must submit ALL of the following:
Additional Requirements
You must meet all of the program-specific and non-academic requirements where listed. In some cases, you may need to complete a placement exam to determine academic readiness.
Applicants should also provide the following additional documents. These additional mandatory requirements apply before commencing practicums and not at the time of admission.
Full Time:
Full Time:
Tuition fees for the program are payable in three instalments. The first instalment is due 2 weeks prior to the start date. Students with guaranteed funding arrangements will be exempt from this requirement provided they produce proof of funding before the cohort start date.
All formats of the program are eligible for Canada Student Loans, other forms of government funding, and bank financing. However, students are responsible for making their own funding arrangements and are advised to contact the relevant funder well in advance of the start date to make an application.
Application and tuition fees for this program are as follows:
Application fee: $40 (Domestic Students) or $140 (International Students)
Tuition fee (Online): $5,400 (Domestic Students) and $5,400 (International Students)
Note: Tuition fees do not include the cost of the required textbooks. The approximate textbook fee is $200.
Live Online Students
Ashton College uses web conferencing tools to help instructors and students connect and collaborate live online. For the online classes, students need to have a fully functional computer system with a webcam, speakers and microphone or headset and headphones, along with a reliable high-speed internet connection. Though the classes can be accessed using smartphones and tablets, we recommend using a laptop or desktop computer for a better learning experience.
This program was reviewed and approved by the Registrar of the Private Training Institutions Branch of the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training.