Mental Health and Substance Use

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Courses - May 2025

Level 1

Course details

Conestoga 101
CON0101

Description: This self-directed course focuses on introducing new students to the supports, services, and opportunities available at Conestoga College. By the end of this course, students will understand the academic expectations of the Conestoga learning environment, as well as the supports available to ensure their academic success. Students will also be able to identify on-campus services that support their health and wellness, and explore ways to get actively involved in the Conestoga community through co-curricular learning opportunities.
  • Hours: 1
  • Credits: 0
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Mental Health in Society
MNHL8300

Description: This course focuses on an inter-disciplinary overview of mental health and substance use. Students will critically examine personal attitudes, societal myths, and stereotypes related to mental illness and substance abuse. Drawing on literature, arts, politics, media, medicine, and the social sciences, students will examine mental illness and substance abuse through various lenses and compare assumptions of agency, normalcy, treatment, and recovery.
  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Measuring the Impacts of Mental Health and Substance Use Problems
MNHL8310

Description: Mental health and substance use problems may have profound impacts on individuals, families, communities and societies. In this course, students will examine current measures used to assess the impact of mental health and substance use problems in Canada. Through in-class and online discussions, group work and assignments, students will reflect critically on how current data collection processes and performance indicators address incidence and prevalence of issues, and the needs of at-risk populations. Students will identify gaps and make recommendations to improve the data collection processes in order to inform program and policy development for at-risk populations in Canada.
  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Promoting Mental Health and Well-Being Across the Life Course
MNHL8320

Description: In this course, students will examine the use of a population mental health approach to promote mental health and well-being. Through assigned readings, discussions and in-class presentations students will better understand key interventions and components of programs and policies that promote and protect the mental health and well-being of Canadians across their life course.
  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Conditions that Elevate Risk
MNHL8330

Description: In this course, students will examine risk factors such as poverty and homelessness that can often elevate the risk for mental health and substance use problems. Students will follow current social issues in the media, and through class discussion, blog posts and the creation of an arts-based project, they will examine the root causes of mental health and substance use problems. Students will also recognize the impact of these societal issues and identify ways to advocate for changes to address inequities and meditate risk for specific populations.
  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Evidence Based Interventions for Populations at-Risk
MNHL8360

Description: In this course, students will examine historical events and paradigm shifts that have influenced current interventions for emerging and existing mental health and substance use problems. Students will discuss evidence-based practices that incorporate recovery and strength-based approaches such as first episode psychosis programs, assertive community treatment teams, managed alcohol programs, peer support initiatives and “Housing First” strategies. Students will also critically examine how these evidence-based programs and interventions address the specific needs of at-risk populations in Canada.
  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Preparing for Collaborative Practice
MNHL8400

Description: This seminar-based course will provide students with the opportunity to identify and develop skills, strengths and experiences in collaborative multisector practice through the creation of an eportfolio. Seminar topics will focus on the importance of ethics, critical reflection, communication and leadership skills, group dynamics, facilitation and interviewing, professional conduct and related legislation concerning confidentiality and informed consent. Through individual reflection, self-assessment and collaborative assessment, students will examine their personal and professional development needs and develop a learning contract for their practice-based activities in Semester II. Students will also collaborate with peers, faculty and practice-based community agencies to develop a proposal for a capstone knowledge integration project for Semester II.
  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Level 2

Course details

Trauma-Informed Care and Services
MNHL8340

Description: In this course students will examine key principles, program characteristics and policy implications related to the design and implementation of trauma-informed care and services. Through class discussions and assignments, students will examine the current trauma needs and issues of specific populations such as homeless youth, Indigenous communities and immigrants and refugees. Students will appraise current programs and policies in Canada and make recommendations to improve access and the design and delivery of trauma-informed care and services.
  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Human Rights, the Law and Legislation
MNHL8350

Description: In this course, students will examine the impact of historical and current legislative, regulatory and institutional practices on the human rights of individuals with mental health and substance use issues. Through online discussions, individual reflections and in-class panel discussions, students will reflect on their roles and responsibilities in addressing human rights violations against individuals with mental health and substance use problems. Students will also review a rights-based approach to advocacy, stigma, discrimination, and marginalization of populations at-risk for mental health and substance use problems.
  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Examining Complexity in At-Risk Populations
MNHL8370

Description: In this course, students will consider the challenges associated with providing care and developing programs and services for populations with complex and unique needs. Populations to be discussed include those living with co-existing conditions and diagnoses, justice-involved youth and those exposed to trauma; including intergenerational and familial effects of trauma. Using case-based scenarios, students will develop an in-depth understanding of the unique and complex needs of specific populations at risk for developing mental health and substance use problems.
  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Inter-sectoral and Cross-Ministerial Collaborations
MNHL8380

Description: In this course, students will examine how cross-ministerial and inter-sectoral priorities and collaborations address individuals and populations with complex needs. Through in-class discussions, assignments and small group presentations, students will examine collaboration among mental health and substance abuse programs, health care providers, services and supports such as peer support, housing, and the criminal justice system. Students will also deepen their understanding of the policies, legislation and funding mechanisms that facilitate timely and equitable access to mental health and substance abuse services.
  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Planning and Facilitating Program Evaluation
MNHL8390

Description: In this course, students will examine different types of evaluations commonly used to inform decision-making and improvements in mental health and substance use programs. Students will review the evaluation process from identifying program goals, involving key stakeholders, designing and implementing a program evaluation. They will also examine approaches and tools to gather, analyse and present qualitative and quantitative data for effective communication of the results.
  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Capstone Knowledge Integration Project
MNHL8410

Description: This course offers students an opportunity to integrate and consolidate their learning through a consultative capstone knowledge integration project in a setting that serves or supports a specific population at-risk. Working in teams, students draw from the framework introduced in MNHL8400 - Preparing for Collaborative Practice, to guide and facilitate the project. Students will build upon curricular outcomes of the program and engage with their practice-based settings. Students will also develop and present a knowledge integration project that emphasizes a strengths-based framework and recovery-oriented approach to address the needs of populations with mental health and/or substance use problems.
  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 4
  • Pre-Requisites: MNHL8400
  • CoRequisites:

Program outcomes

  1. Assess the multi-level risk and protective factors to determine the potential impact on persons, communities and populations at risk for mental health and substance use problems
  2. Advocate on behalf of at-risk populations to reduce stigma, discrimination and marginalization of people with mental health and substance use problems
  3. Adhere to professional, legal and ethical standards, including policies and best practices as they relate to mental health and substance use problems.
  4. Integrate theory and empirical evidence to develop strategies to address service gaps and promote mental health and well-being for populations and people with complex needs.
  5. Assess personal and inter-professional capabilities used to advance system and service improvements for populations at risk for mental health and substance use problems.
  6. Design mental health and substance use policy, programs and services using population health planning frameworks to align with the needs of people with mental health and substance use problems
  7. Reflect critically on the ideas, interests and institutions that influence societal responses to inform policy and programming decisions