College Diploma - Mental Health and Addiction Worker

The two-year diploma is described as combining evidence-based learning with field placement, preparing students for meaningful roles in healthcare and social services. The program equips learners with evidence-informed practices to support individuals, families, and communities. It emphasizes critical thinking, advocacy, harm-reduction strategies, and the use of culturally aware, anti-oppressive, and trauma-informed approaches, including Indigenous perspectives. Graduates are prepared for meaningful roles in community agencies, residential care, group homes, and various other settings, with a focus on prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery. Career opportunities for graduates include addiction support, case management, community mental health, crisis intervention, homelessness prevention, Indigenous outreach, rehabilitation support, youth and family services, veterans’ services, residential treatment services, drop-in centres, hospitals, correctional facilities, withdrawal management services, shelters, and street outreach work. The program prepares learners to effectively support and empower individuals to make positive changes through highly relevant, experience-based coursework. Students engage in a mix of in-class learning and practical application, including simulation, case studies, applied learning, skills practice, role play, and field placement. Theory and practice are integrated through extensive group work, while participants build essential skills in human relations, interpersonal communication, needs assessment, and critical thinking.