Community-Based Mental Health
Core Competencies for Frontline Workers
Community-based mental health care is changing. More and more, frontline workers are
supporting people with mental health concerns and mental health in the workplace is an
increasing focus. There are no guidelines and few supports to facilitate comprehensive
skill development. The following overview identifies 10 core competencies for Frontline
Mental Health Work. These competencies are derived from frontline workers in BC who
work in a community-based HIV/HCV context.
The vision is to support skill development by providing training opportunities that will
enhance community and regional expertise in community-based mental health. This work
is grounded in and facilitated through a Community of Practice, which offers an ongoing
space for dialogue, learning and sharing.
1. Ethical Principles
a. Scope of Practice
b. Guiding Values
i. Harm Reduction
2. Frontline Worker Practice
a. Commitment to Self-Awareness
b. Social Justice Principles
c. Finding One’s Learning Edge (Self-Assessment)
d. Managing Vicarious Trauma
e. Support and Supervision
3. Clinical Mental Health Knowledge
a. Basic Mental Health (Mental Health First Aid)
b. Advanced Mental Health
c. Severe Mental Illness
d. Assessments
e. Pharmacology
f. Mental Health and HIV
i. Depression
ii. Cognition
iii. Aging
g. Mental Health and HCV
4. Population Mental Health
a. Social Determinants of Mental Health
b. Cultural Perspectives and Mental Health
c. Aboriginal People and Cultural Safety
d. Gender Lens and Mental Health
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5. Substance Use
a. The War on Drugs
b. Harm Reduction
c. Substance Use and Mental Health: comorbidity
d. Therapeutic Benefits of Illicit Drug Use
6. Trauma Informed Practice
a. Overview of Trauma
b. Trauma-Informed Principles
c. Therapeutic Space
7. Therapeutic Strategies
a. The Basics
i. Client Centred Approaches
ii. Motivational Interviewing
iii. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
b. Advanced (Transformative Approaches)
i. Mindfulness
ii. Narrative Approaches
iii. Self-Regulation Therapy
iv. Art/ Creativity
v. Spirituality
8. Self-Empowerment Strategies for Clients
a. Street College
b. Running Successful Group Sessions
9. Facilitating Community Partnerships and Community Development
a. Urban Self-Governance
i. Street Angels (Case Study)
10. Mental Health Policies, Strategies
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