Lesson 1: Introduction and overview of Mental

Health vs. Mental Illness

Lesson Notes
In this lesson you will be exploring the concepts of mental health and mental illness.
As you complete the readings you will gain an understanding and awareness of the
risk factors effecting mental health and explore the idea of responding to mental
health calls as a law enforcement officer.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/reaching-across-the-divide/201804/the-
difference-between-mental-health-and-mental-illness
Read the information from psychology today to explore the difference between
mental health and mental illness.

https://mindyourmind.ca/blog/mental-health-vs-mental-illness
Read this blog post to hear one person’s perspective on Mental Health vs Mental
Illness and the power of language. How might the use of language impact the
perception of the public? Perception of someone living with a mental illness? How
might it impact Stigma?

http://www.heretohelp.bc.ca/ask-us/whats-the-difference-between-mental-health-
and-mental-illness
Read this mental health information for another perspective on Mental Health vs
Mental Illness.

https://www.ontarioshores.ca/UserFiles/Servers/Server_6/File/PDFs/Research/Rese
archDay/2013/Dennis%20Raphael.pdf
Review this power point presentation created by Dennis Raphael to learn about the
social determinants of mental health.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnufbThvqzE watch this video to explore the

foundation/pillars of mental health.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eI5IFIyeVpw watch this video to explore

another perspective on the foundation/pillars of mental health.
http://www.heretohelp.bc.ca/screening/online/?screen=wellbeing review and
complete this screening tool, for your own curiosity. (this is a wellbeing screening
test, interesting, self reflection, assesses areas of functioning that form the
foundation of mental health). This is a first step in your reflection of your own
foundations of mental health and wellbeing, which will be further explored in Lesson
10.

Lesson 2: Stigma
Lesson Notes
In this lesson we will explore the causes of stigma and how it plays a role in policing
and public beliefs. You will have an opportunity to reflect on your own beliefs and
biases around mental illness and think critically about how this may play out in your
role as a police officer. As you complete the readings, take some time to reflect on
your understanding of mental health and mental illness, your beliefs and values. Get
curious about what you see around you. What examples of stigma with respect to
mental illness have you seen? What does it look like? How does it effect the person?
The community? Society as a whole?

https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/December-2016/Understanding-What-
Causes-Stigma
Read this information on the National Alliance for Mental Health, which explores the
causes of stigma. What are your thoughts?

https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/substance-abuse/prescription-
drug-abuse/opioids/stigma.html
Spend some time reviewing this Government of Canada web page, which outlines
the definition of stigma and why it matters. Although this information is focused on
those who use drugs, the impact and how you can help are the same for those living
with mental illness. Please take note of the section on how stigma can effect a
persons quality of life, so that you may use some of this information for the first
Reflection assignment in Lesson 3.

https://www.camh.ca/en/driving-change/addressing-stigma
Please spend some time exploring this CAMH website, which explores the idea of
challenging the stigma associated with mental illness and encouraged readers to take
a closer look at their own attitudes toward health.
https://www.films.com/id/3/Myths_about_Madness_Challenging_Stigma_and_Chan
ging_Attitudes.html
Watch this video for an interesting perspective on stigma. When you get to the
website, you'll click on 'play preview' at the top left of the screen.

Lesson 3: Education Strategies to Reduce

Stigma
Lesson Notes
In this lesson we will explore education strategies to reduce stigma.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1489812/
Read this article to explore some of the ideas behind educational strategies to
reduce stigma.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0924933805000908
Please read this article, which explores public and self stigma, different
conceptualizations of stigma, the consequences and ways to reduce stigma.

https://mdsc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/A-Study-of-Stigma-Final-Katie-
Deveau.pdf
Please read pages 13-27 for Canadian and international examples of anti stigma
campaigns.

https://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/sites/default/files/Stigma_OM_Programs_
Listed_by_Province_ENG_0.pdf
Please have a look at page 18 of this document for several examples of initiatives
within Ontario

http://www.camhx.ca/education/online_courses_webinars/mha101/stigma/Stigma_
.htm
Please take the time to go through this stigma awareness tutorial by CAMH. I will
encourage you to explore it with curiosity and self reflection.

Lesson 4: The Mental Health Act and Types of

Apprehension
Lesson Notes
In this lesson we will explore the Mental Health Act.

https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90m07?search=mental
Please download and review the Mental Health Act, while paying particular attention
to sections 17 and 25.

http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-46/page-161.html
Please review these sections of the Criminal Code, which relate to Mental Disorders
and assessment orders.

http://blg.com/en/News-And-Publications/Documents/Publication_4649.pdf
Please review Chapter 1, section 3 and Chapter 3 section 4. Here you will review key
legislation as it pertains to the MHA as well as assessment and hospitalization.

https://www.ottawapolice.ca/en/about-us/mental-health-unit.asp
Please review this page of the Ottawa Police Website for further info.

http://www.ontla.on.ca/library/repository/mon/28002/233900.pdf
please review the Policing Standards Manual pages 41-43.

Lesson 5: Awareness, Schizophrenia Spectrum

and Psychotic Disorders
Lesson Notes
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/schizophrenia/index.shtml
Please review this National institute of mental health for an overview of
schizophrenia.

https://cmha.ca/mental-health/understanding-mental-illness/schizophrenia
Please review this web page for more information.

https://study.com/academy/lesson/schizophrenia.html
Please watch this video for an overview of symptoms and presenting characteristics.
https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/lbrr/archives/cnmcs-plcng/cn30152-eng.pdf
Please read pages 4-6 of this document, which was created as a practical guide for
the frontline officer.

Lesson 6: Bipolar and Related Disorders,

Depressive Disorders
Lesson Notes
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/bipolar-disorder/index.shtml
Please review this information, which provides an overview, including signs and
symptoms, of bipolar and related disorders

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml
Please review this information, which provides an overview, including signs and
symptoms, of depressive disorders

https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/lbrr/archives/cnmcs-plcng/cn30152-eng.pdf
Please read page 7 of this document, which was created as a practical guide for the
frontline officer

Lesson 7: Anxiety Disorders, OCD and Related

Disorders, Trauma and Stressor Related
Disorders
Lesson Notes
https://cmha.ca/mental-health/understanding-mental-illness/anxiety-disorders
Please review this information for an overview of Anxiety and related disorders.

https://cmha.ca/mental-health/understanding-mental-illness/obsessive-compulsive-
disorder-ocd
Please read this information for an overview on Obsessive Compulsive Disorders.
https://cmha.ca/mental-health/understanding-mental-illness/phobias-and-panic-
disorders
Please read this information for an overview on phobias and related disorders.

https://cmha.ca/mental-health/understanding-mental-illness/post-traumatic-stress-
disorder-ptsd
Please read this information for an overview on PTSD.

https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/lbrr/archives/cnmcs-plcng/cn30152-eng.pdf
Please read page 8 of this document, which was created as a practical guide for the
frontline officer.

Lesson 8: Personality Disorders, Concurrent

Disorders and Addictions
Lesson Notes
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/personality-disorders.shtml
Please review this page for an overview of personality disorders.

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/
personality-disorders/types-of-personality-disorder/#.W15SxmyWxyI
Please review this information for an overview on the types of personality disorders.

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/borderline-personality-
disorder/index.shtml
Please read this information for an overview on Borderline Personality Disorder.

https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illness-and-addiction-
index/concurrent-disorders
Please review this information for an overview of concurrent disorders.

http://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illness-and-addiction-index/addiction
Please read the following information for an overview on addiction.

Lesson 9: Responding to Mental Health Calls

Lesson Notes
https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/lbrr/archives/cnmcs-plcng/cn30152-eng.pdf
Please read pages 10-25, which explores the do’s and don’ts of responding to mental
health calls, as well as different procedures.

http://www.icjia.state.il.us/assets/articles/CIT_Article_041618.pdf
Please read pages 1-6 for an overview of the CIT (crisis intervention team) theory and
benefits.

http://scholars.wlu.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2739&context=etd
Please read pages 1-7 and 36-72 This is a masters thesis written in 2014 with a focus
on the frontline perspective of responding to mental health calls. Please keep in
mind that the author has shared some examples of calls.

https://www.cnn.com/2015/07/06/health/police-mental-health-training/index.html
Please watch this video and read the information.

https://www.policeone.com/police-training/videos/7861843-Responding-to-mental-
illness-with-compassion/
Please watch this video, which looks at the concept of responding to mental health
calls with compassion.

https://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/sites/default/files/2016-
05/TEMPO%20Police%20Interactions%20082014.pdf
please review the TEMPO document, chapters 5 and 6

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BL_EE2XHmS8
Please watch this video, the OPP’s media release on

http://www.slcdocs.com/ODHR/Website/Right%20to%20Safety/Literature/Understa
ndingHowOfficersThinkAboutMentalEmotionalDisturbanceCalls.pdf
Please read this document which explores how officers view emotional disturbance
calls.