Program Overview

Mental Health – Interprofessional Practice Graduate Certificate

Program Description

Professionals in the healthcare field recognize that mental disorders, including addictive behaviours, play a prominent role in the many complex clinical presentations which all front-line clinicians face. In this program, students are equipped with the appropriate clinical competencies to recognize and include mental health issues and build effective plans of care, within their current scope of practice, to ensure good clinical outcomes. Students are exposed to a variety of intervention options such as motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioural therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy and dialectal behaviour therapy. Ultimately, students develop the skills necessary to effectively work with clients to deliver enhanced services with a focus on quality across a variety of settings.

Information about Placement Requirements

To help you navigate the requirements to complete the clinical placement component(s) of this program (e.g. immunization, First Aid and CPR, criminal record screening and other non-academic requirements), please review the details below.

• In order to provide quality practicum placements (“Placements”), students are placed in a variety of agencies, largely in the region serviced by the campus.
• Students are required to provide their own transportation to Placements.
• Placements may vary in length (e.g. six to 12 hour days) and may include weekends and evenings, with varying start and end times (e.g. day, afternoon, overnight).
• Many programs, including Health and Wellness, have immunization, First Aid and CPR, criminal record screening and other non-academic requirements that need to be met prior to Placements starting.
• You are responsible for carefully reviewing and meeting these requirements.
• The failure to meet them may mean that the host agency may refuse to accept you for a Placement or, if you have started one, that you may be prevented from continuing.
• The result may be that you cannot complete your program.
• Program-specific requirements can be found on page 2 of the Clinical Preparedness Permit specific to your program.
• You are responsible for meeting all immunization, criminal screening and other requirements by the deadline provided by your program and before you start your Placement.

Notes regarding the Criminal Record Check (“CRC”) and Vulnerable Sector Screening (VSS)

• Individuals who have been charged or convicted criminally and not yet pardoned or who have adverse entries on their CRC or VSS will be prohibited from proceeding to a Placement.
• Such a student will normally be counselled to withdraw from the program because the successful completion of a Placement is a program requirement.
• Obtaining the CRC and VSS usually requires a processing time of up to 12 weeks and can vary between police jurisdictions.
• As some jurisdictions require longer lead time for processing, ensure you allow for sufficient turn-around time.
• Record checks and screenings conducted earlier than six months may not be considered current and not be acceptable.
• Refer to your Clinical Preparedness Permit for information regarding this.
• A host agency may refuse a Placement if the CRC or VSS is not satisfactory to it.
• It is the student’s responsibility to provide the necessary completed documents prior to the start of a Placement at the designated check time, and in the format set by Georgian College and stated in the Clinical Preparedness Permit Information Package.
• More information can be found on the Placement Offices webpage.

Career Opportunities

Completion of this program enhances the employability of graduates in the full range of health care professions, adding an important, long neglected, and critical component to their knowledge and skill sets. Graduates who complete this program may find employment in community-based health and social services, hospitals and other agencies providing mental health services.

Course Information

Course Offerings and Equivalents

Currently available courses are listed below.

• Counselling Skills: Building Clinical Competencies (MHCC 1002)
• Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention (MHCC 1006)
• Determinants of Health: Mental Health Policy and Practice Perspectives (MHCC 1001)
• Forensic Mental Health (MHCC 1009)
• Geriatric Mental Health (MHCC 1008)
• Issues and Trends in Mental Health Practice (MHCC 1007)
• Major Mental Disorders (MHCC 1000)
• Paediatric Mental Health (MHCC 1011)
• Substance-Related and Other Addictive Disorders (MHCC 1005)
• Trauma and Trauma-Informed Practice (MHCC 1003)
• Working with Diverse Clients (MHCC 1004)

How to Apply

Apply Online through ontariocolleges.ca

1. Make sure you meet program admission requirements
2. Complete an online application using the Ontario College Application Service (OCAS) using the part-time program code
3. When registration opens, select the course(s) from the program webpage course listing and follow the prompt steps to register and pay

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Finance and Fees

• Are part-time students eligible for the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP)?
  • As a part-time student, you may be eligible for OSAP funding, depending on the number of courses you take per semester.
• What is the cost of the program?
  • As a part-time student, you can take one to three courses per semester, paying on a course-by-course basis.

Online Learning

• What is an OntarioLearn (ODE) course?
  • These courses are offered through OntarioLearn. Visit the OntarioLearn webpage to learn more.
• OntarioLearn courses are set up as equivalents to the Georgian courses. You can choose to take the ODE courses or the Georgian courses.

Credit for Prior Learning (CPL)

• Can I transfer credits or prior life or work experience to fast track my studies?
  • Previous postsecondary education: If you’ve completed courses, or some or all of a program, at another accredited postsecondary institution, you may be able to transfer all or some of your courses into a related program at Georgian.
  • Relevant work or life experience: If you have relevant work and/or life experience that relates to your program(s) of interest at Georgian, Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) is an academic credit option.