Mental Health Awareness Bundle (Text and Handbook), 2nd Edition

Mental Health: Self-Care for First Responders, 2nd Edition is a user-friendly handbook on common mental health challenges for first responders and helping professionals doing front-line work. The handbook includes information about identifying symptoms of stress, understanding different kinds of mental health issues, and strategies for engaging in self-care and trauma recovery. Topics covered include PTSD, chronic stress, vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, suicide, resiliency, and more. 

Written to address the need for ongoing emotional support for society’s front-line workers, the second edition includes new material on organizational response to trauma, first-responder workplace culture, moral injury, stigmatization, as well as a revised self-care plan and new “Spotlight on Mental Health” boxes in which first responders across Canada share their story of mental health resiliency in the field. 

Those with careers in law enforcement, emergency management, fire services, EMS, corrections, border services, social work, or other community justice fields are often prepared to take care of others, but with this resource, they will now be prepared to take care of themselves. 

• A new chapter on corrections and mental health courts.
• New “Spotlight on Mental Health” boxes, featuring interviews with front-line workers.
• Legislation discussed now includes Alberta and British Columbia statutes.
• “Voices from the Field” real-world Canadian scenarios, encouraging practical application and self-reflection.
• New “Further Reading and Resources” section for students to dig deeper into various topics.
• New information about resiliency training and resources across Canada.
• New discussion on systemic racism in policing.
• More comprehensive coverage of de-escalation and Mental Health Training, including content specific to the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA), corrections services, and policing.
• Updated information on Victim/Witness Assistance Programs in Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta.

• New “Spotlight on Mental Health” boxes, featuring personal stories from front-line workers from across Canada.
• New information on asking for help and finding a mental health professional.
• Expanded discussion on workplace culture, including de-stigmatization and sanctuary trauma.
• A customizable self-care plan and with goals and logs related to rest, mindfulness, screen time, and healthy eating.

Mental Health Awareness for First Responders

Part I: Introducing Mental Health In Front-Line Work
Chapter 1: Justice and Injustice: A Brief History of Mental Health and Justice in Canada
Chapter 2: Context is Everything: A Look at the Current State of Mental Health in Canada’s Criminal Justice System
Chapter 3: Deinstitutionalization: Implications for Law Enforcement, First Responders, and Helping Professionals
Chapter 4: Mental Health in Corrections and Courts

Part II: Common Mental Health Issues
Chapter 5: Depression and Anxiety
Chapter 6: Addictions and Concurrent Disorders
Chapter 7: Personality Disorders and Schizophrenia
Chapter 8: Suicide Intervention

Part III: Mental Health Interventions for Those in Crisis
Chapter 9: It Takes a Community: Connecting and Collaborating for Service Delivery That Focuses on the Individual
Chapter 10: Working with Victims

Part IV: Emerging Trends
Chapter 11: Harm Reduction, Anti-Racism, and Systemic Change
Chapter 12: Resiliency and Organizational Responses

Mental Health: Self-Care for First Responders

Chapter 1 Introduction to Emotional Well-Being: An Overview and Brief History in the Professional Context
Chapter 2 Critical Incident Stress and Its Management
Chapter 3 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Acute Stress Disorder
Chapter 4 Compassion Fatigue, Vicarious Trauma, Cumulative Stress, and Moral Injury
Chapter 5 Suicide and Suicide Intervention
Chapter 6 Self-Care Strategies: Being Good to Yourself
Chapter 7 Resiliency and Support

Self-Care Plan

Chapter 1: Justice and Injustice: A Brief History of Mental Health and Justice in Canada.

Chapter 1 Introduction to Emotional Well-Being: An Overview and Brief History in the Professional Context.

The Struggle Back: Through the Criminal Justice System with Addictions and Mental Illness is a 30-minute documentary film produced by Arun Dhanota and Dan Rowe of Humber College. In the film, three individuals tell their stories of their experience with mental health and addictions and their subsequent interactions with law enforcement and the criminal justice system. It is a rich, first-person account of what it’s like to be on the other side of the interaction and living with mental health issues. Instructors will have access to the full 30-minute documentary, as well as a short instructor handout to accompany the video with reflection and discussion questions.

• Instructor's Guide

• PowerPoint Presentations

• Test Bank

• Group exercises

• Further Reading and Resources

• Guide on how to adapt the Self-Care Plan to the Habit Share App

• Access to The Struggle Back documentary

• The Struggle Back Instructor’s Guide

For free instructor resources, please contact instructor support.