Supporting mental health in primary care
Following the national call from the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) to “Come Together” for Mental Health Week this May, the Looking Beyond a Diagnosis online learning series supports the critical role primary care providers play to address mental health needs in primary care.
Family physicians and nurse practitioners are often the first point of contact for patients seeking support in primary care. In 2023, we designed education with practical tools and knowledge for these health professionals, in partnership with the Health Data Coalition (HDC), Practice Support Program (PSP) and select Divisions of Family Practice throughout BC.
We recently re-launched the courses with up-to-date content and are now releasing a brand-new bundle to support mental health awareness efforts throughout May.
Looking beyond a diagnosis — a learning series
The series includes four asynchronous, accredited modules designed to build progressively — from foundational frameworks to condition-specific guidance. Health professionals gain strategies to manage mental health concerns commonly encountered in practice.
Learners are encouraged to begin with Looking Beyond a Diagnosis: Mental Health in Primary Care, before completing the additional modules focused on specific conditions and demographics:
“The modules are designed to be self-paced”, Kate Campbell, Senior Manager, Creative Learning explains, “the series starts by grounding learners in core principles—like trauma‑sensitive care and effective communication—then builds toward modules that focus on key mental health conditions and populations seen in primary care. Across the series, learners are supported with evidence‑informed tools, clinical pathways and practical resources they can apply directly in their work.”
Each module equips learners with best practices on pertinent topics, such as:
- trauma-informed and culturally sensitive care
- relationships between substance use, chronic disease and mental health disorders
- developing treatments plans using provincial resources and care pathways
| During the month of May, registrants can register for all four modules and receive a 25% discount. View details about this limited time offer. |
A shared commitment to mental health
Mental Health Week, led by the CMHA, encourages people across Canada to “spark small, everyday actions of connection, and to recognize the role we all play in supporting mental health through connection.”
For health professionals providing mental health care, this flexible, online series offers an opportunity to strengthen the knowledge and skills needed to support patients.
Explore the Looking Beyond a Diagnosis modules and register to learn at your own pace.