Mental Health and Substance Use

Conestoga College is a public college located in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. It offers more than 200 programs in various fields such as Engineering, Business, Health Sciences, Information Technology, Media and Design, and Community Services.

The Mental Health and Substance Use graduate certificate program will provide future human and health service providers with knowledge and applied skills needed to move into service and program planning, delivery and evaluation roles related to persons who are affected by mental health and/or substance use problems. These roles complement and extend clinical services provided by other personnel in a direct delivery organization. As providers in these sectors work increasingly across boundaries to address the complex and intersecting needs of these populations, students will learn how to examine and address service quality at the practice, program and system levels. Learners will gain a deeper understanding of the importance of community collaboration, public participation, social inclusion, and advocacy in their work with persons experiencing complex conditions. Integrative themes of self-determination, capacity building, resilience, recovery and empowerment will be examined from person-centred, community-based and population-oriented perspectives.