Indigenous 
Overview
Adopting a holistic perspective is essential for advancing mental health and facilitating evidence-based care across primary, secondary, and tertiary settings. This specialized certificate program offers nurses the opportunity to deepen their knowledge and effectively promote mental health within diverse practice environments. The curriculum comprises five theory-focused courses, followed by a practicum that allows participants to translate theoretical concepts into practice through case study activities.
Program Details
Program Highlights
- Develop advanced knowledge in mental health assessment, therapeutic communication, and recovery-oriented care.
- Build skills to support individuals across the lifespan with acute and chronic mental health conditions.
- Learn evidence-based interventions for crisis response, suicide prevention, trauma-informed care, and concurrent disorders.
- Strengthen clinical decision-making through case-based learning and real-world application.
- Explore the impact of culture, equity, diversity, and social determinants of health on mental wellness.
- Enhance collaboration within interprofessional healthcare teams to promote holistic, person-centred care.
- Gain practical knowledge that can be applied in hospitals, community mental health, primary care, long-term care, addiction services, and correctional settings.
- Study in a flexible format designed for working nurses, allowing immediate integration of new knowledge into professional practice.
Graduates will be equipped with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to deliver safe, compassionate, and recovery-focused mental health care while responding to the growing demand for nurses with expertise in mental health across Canada’s healthcare system.
Program Outline
Please note: NURS 1035 must be completed first. And all courses must be completed before registering for NURS 2000.
2026-2027
Introduction to Mental Health Nursing provides an essential foundation in mental health care, guiding learners to critically evaluate the roles of history, stigma, and social determinants within Ontario's system. The course equips participants with the ability to build culturally safe, trauma-informed therapeutic relationships, conduct thorough mental health assessments, and address issues related to substance use and harm reduction. Students are expected to uphold professional standards throughout various care settings. This course also serves as a prerequisite for all subsequent theory courses.
Mental Health Promotion explores evidence-based strategies for fostering mental wellness across the lifespan, emphasizing social and structural determinants, climate-related stressors, and equity-focused action. Learners will apply recovery-oriented and trauma-informed approaches to promote resilience, collaborate with people with lived experience, and design interventions for diverse populations. The course highlights prevention levels, adaptation to various care settings, including virtual and e-mental health, and the integration of global and Ontario-based initiatives, all while using inclusive, stigma-reducing communication and aligning with the TRC Calls to Action.
(Pre-requisite: NURS 1035)
This course provides practical skills in applying provincial mental health, consent, and privacy legislation, including evolving areas like MAiD and substance decriminalization, to clinical practice. Learners will analyze ethical dilemmas through structured frameworks, and a DE&I lens, operationalize Community Treatment Orders and capacity/consent processes, and advocate for equitable care for marginalized and criminalized populations. Emphasis is placed on inclusive communication and maintaining privacy in all care settings, fostering cultural safety and trauma-informed practice.
(Pre-requisite: NURS 1035)
Psychopharmacology provides learners with a comprehensive understanding of core neuropharmacology and the clinical application of psychotropic medications across diverse populations and medical conditions. The course emphasizes differentiation of major psychotropic classes, nursing monitoring priorities, and proactive management of high-risk adverse effects, all while considering social determinants of health. Students will develop skills to educate clients and families ethically and inclusively, assess complementary/alternative therapies, and use plain language to support shared decision-making and culturally safe care in both in-person and virtual environments.
(Pre-requisite: NURS 1035)
This course equips learners with practical skills for managing mental health crises through trauma and violence informed approaches. Emphasis is placed on selecting and adapting crisis intervention models, recognizing and responding to early warning signs in rapidly evolving situations, and conducting comprehensive suicide and self-harm risk assessments. Learners will also develop strategies to safely manage acute psychotic crises, address workplace violence and moral injury, and implement self-care practices that enhance resilience and support staff wellness.
(Pre-requisite: NURS 1035)
The Mental Health Practicum is the program’s capstone experience, guiding learners in delivering individualized, ethical, and evidence-informed mental health nursing across diverse settings. Through comprehensive assessments and holistic care planning, students address social determinants of health, intersectionality, and client expertise. The course emphasizes implementing therapeutic interventions, advocating for social justice and equity in collaboration with interprofessional teams, and fostering reflective practice and ongoing professional growth to respond to contemporary challenges in mental health care.
(Pre-requisites: NURS 1035, 1036, 1038, 1037, and 1039)
Requirements
Admission Requirements
- Ontario College Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Degree or equivalent in Nursing.
- Proof of active unrestricted registration as a registered practical nurse (RPN) or Registered Nurse (RN) in good standing with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) (or equivalent) is required for enrollment. You must provide your CNO registered number at the time of registration.
Are your transcripts from outside of Canada? Please visit Applying to SLC - With Your Transcripts for more information.
Health Requirements
The following health requirements will need to be met for clinical practicum:
- CPR Level C-HCP
- Clear CPIC including vulnerable sector check
- Up-to-date immunizations
Career Opportunities
Graduates from this program can work in a variety of settings/sectors including hospitals, emergency departments, community health, forensic psychiatry, corrections, addictions, child and youth mental health, crisis services, veterans affairs, and more.
Program Contacts
Program Contact
Matt LeBlanc
MJLeblanc@sl.on.ca