Psychological First Aid Course

The Canadian Red Cross Psychological First Aid course is 12 hours of teaching time when taken entirely in class, or 90 minutes of online learning followed by 7 hours in class. Both routes lead to the same certificate, and completing either earns the same three-year card.

Red Cross Psychological First Aid builds resilience and coping strategies, while Mental Health First Aid concentrates on responding once a crisis is under way. Mental Health First Aid is a Mental Health Commission of Canada program; Psychological First Aid is a Canadian Red Cross one. One is the training you use every week, the other the training you hope never to need. If you want tools to cope week to week, start here.

No — Psychological First Aid does not train you in suicide intervention. The 15 topics cover stress, loss, grief, trauma, indicators and supportive communication, so the learning lowers the barriers to starting a conversation, not to managing acute risk. Knowing where your limits sit is part of responsible mental health support.

If someone is in immediate danger, call or text 9-8-8, Canada’s Suicide Crisis Helpline, or call 911.

The instructor-led Psychological First Aid course is recommended for anyone 16 years of age or older, and no prior medical training is needed. Online learning reaches further down: Self Care is open to youth aged 14 and up, with adult support recommended for younger learners developing their first coping habits. Families often take it together, the cheapest way to cover a household.

Anyone who deals with people under pressure gets the most benefit — managers, teachers, coaches, care workers and parents. Our mission is that every learner walks out able to make a positive difference, and that starts with your own self-care plan. Families report the mental health skills landing at the kitchen table first.

We suggest the classroom sessions when you have eight learners or more, and online learning when you are booking for yourself. The classroom route gives you discussion and an instructor; online learning gives the same concepts at your own pace. Both lead to a certificate, and completing the online bundle closes the gap cheaply.

Completing the course means 100% attendance and a score of 75% on the multiple choice knowledge test. There is no practical skills evaluation: Psychological First Aid has no resuscitation component, and the material is discussion and case studies, not lectures.

The Canadian Red Cross Psychological First Aid certificate is valid for three years from the date you pass. It is issued within 48 hours of completing the course. See our recertification courses when it comes time to renew.

Yes — completing the online bundle ends with a knowledge assessment and an electronic certificate of completion. That is a different document from the three-year Canadian Red Cross certificate the instructor-led course issues, so check which one your employer wants before you buy. All three online learning courses are non-refundable.

No — Ontario WSIB Regulation 1101 is satisfied by Basic/Emergency First Aid or Intermediate/Standard First Aid, not by Psychological First Aid. Neither does Mental Health First Aid. Both are mental health programs that sit alongside a physical first aid certificate rather than replacing it, so book Intermediate or Standard First Aid for compliance.

Yes — Intermediate First Aid and Standard First Aid are two names for one course. The Canadian Red Cross changed the wording, so older certificates read Standard and newer ones read Intermediate. Neither one is Psychological First Aid, which is its own 12-hour program. Our first aid courses page covers the workplace levels.

Yes — we run private Psychological First Aid sessions anywhere in Ontario, for groups of eight learners or more, on a date you choose. Group bookings get a discounted price and one bill. Call 1-866-291-9121 or see private and group training.