Page 25 - UHN Centre for Mental Health Impact Report 2023

EDUCATION

Innovative Hub Empowering Nurses

Leading a New Approach to Mental Health Training. First Graduates of Mental Health Nursing Program.

Over the past year, the Centre for Mental Other offerings include Foundations of
Health in collaboration with the Michener Psychedelic Psychotherapy, a cutting-edge
Institute for Education developed the training program to educate health pro-
Mental Health Academy, an education fessionals interested in this emerging
hub uniquely focused on integrating area. And Situational Awareness and
physical and mental health as well as Verbal De-escalation workshops, designed
innovative therapies. to empower frontline professionals to
manage escalating or threatening situ-
The Academy was established to address ations by employing effective strategies
competency gaps and emphasize the that will prevent harm to themselves,
importance of holistic patient care that patients and clients.
integrates mental and physical well-being.
Recognizing the critical need for spe- In addition to its educational offerings, the
cialized education, the Academy offers Mental Health Academy actively promotes
a range of evidence-based courses to public education initiatives, hosting events
equip healthcare professionals with the on depression care and the treatment for
necessary tools to navigate the complex patients with serious and persistent men-
landscape of mental health care. tal illness (SPMI), and creating a training Ms. Vesna Manevska
module shared across UHN for treating The first cohort to complete the Centre modules and weekly virtual sessions.
One of the flagship programs is the patients with substance use disorders. for Mental Health’s new Mental Health
Mental Health Nursing certificate. Mental Nursing Certificate Program this past “Because this is my first nursing job, I
health nursing is a highly specialized field Looking ahead, the Mental Health winter included among the graduates really wanted to advance my skills and
that demands not only medical expertise, Academy plans to expand its course Vesna Manevska, a staff nurse in the knowledge about mental health,” she
but also a compassionate and empathetic offerings, catering to the evolving needs Inpatient Unit. says. “I wanted to cut out the guess work
approach to patients dealing with emo- of healthcare professionals. With its com- and learn effective strategies to work with
tional and psychological issues. It remains mitment to evidence-based educational When Vesna completed her nursing different diagnoses and the populations
surprising that many nurses go through programming, the Academy aims to raise degree at Humber College in April 2022, we help at UHN.”
their entire training with minimal instruc- awareness and reduce stigma surround- her education in mental health-specific

tion in the field of mental health care. ing mental health. nursing was restricted to a one-month Course material covers the therapeutic
placement she attended twice a week. relationship with patients, suicide risk
and mental health assessment, as well as
“It wasn’t that comprehensive,” says how to apply best practices for patients
Vesna, who joined UHN last fall. It’s one with a range of mental health conditions.
of the reasons she jumped at the oppor-
tunity to enroll in the program. “Because of this course I feel much more
reassured going to work,” says Vesna. “It
The 10-week course is geared towards reinforced how collaborative this work
nurses seeking to deepen their under- is across different professions and how
standing of best practices in mental valuable it can be to hear different

24 health care. It is delivered via online approaches.” 25