This is the core text in Emond’s Mental Health Awareness Series. If you are looking for information on the companion handbook, click here.

Mental Health Awareness: Practical Skills for First Responders offers a Canadian perspective on the challenges that first responders face in identifying and intervening with those in crisis. Using relevant examples and trends, this text helps readers navigate criminal justice and mental health systems in Canada, and prepares them for frontline work.

Mental health is examined through various lenses throughout the text. Both historical and emerging developments are taken into consideration, including how mental health is portrayed in pop-culture. This text also features practical scenarios and commentary that can serve current or aspiring professionals across multiple fields (e.g. policing, EMS, fire services, corrections, residential work, and social work).

With this solid foundation, students and professionals will be prepared to handle a variety of often stressful situations in a way that keeps everyone involved safe.

• Also available: A handbook with additional information and guidance for first responders, Mental Health Awareness: Self-Care for First Responders.
• “Voices from the Field” that feature current, Canadian examples.
• New approaches to training (i.e. de-escalation training for officers).
• Information specific to law enforcement.

Part I: Introducing Mental Health In Front-Line Work
Chapter 1: Justice and Injustice
Chapter 2: Context is Everything
Chapter 3: Deinstitutionalization

Part II: Common Mental Health Issues
Chapter 4: Depression and Anxiety
Chapter 5: Concurrent Disorders and Addictions
Chapter 6: Personality Disorders and Schizophrenia
Chapter 7: Suicide Intervention

Part III: Mental Health Interventions for Those in Crisis
Chapter 8: Skilled Labour
Chapter 9: It Takes a Community
Chapter 10: Working with Victims

Part IV: Emerging Trends
Chapter 11: Controversial Topics in the Helping Fields
Chapter 12: Resiliency and Organizational Responses

Glossary
Index
Credits

Chapter 2: Context is Everything: A Look at the Current State of Mental Health in Canada’s Criminal Justice System

“I have read both books and found them to be extremely helpful in understanding the many aspects of mental health. One of the things I liked most was the Canadian content and reference/resource material at the end of each chapter or book. The research and information for a Canadian audience is fantastic.

I found the layout in the books excellent, especially the purple highlighted areas for the definitions and ‘Points to Remember’ sections. This provided a great way of getting the point across clearly. The terminology and content in both books was simple, clear, and easily understandable.

I would definitely recommend this set of books for any peer support team/group or company library to assist in their education component on mental illness. In particular, the practical skills book has great scenarios for all levels of awareness and can be easily used as a teaching or review tool.”

—Renee Jarvis
President CEO, Canadian Criminal Incident Stress Foundation.