Mental Health 1 for Nurse Practitioners
This 8-week online course focuses on the role of the nurse practitioner in mental health and addictions in the following areas: acute/crisis/emergent care considerations including the provision of virtual care, anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorders, and considerations for the care of clients who are indigenous as well as those who may be homeless, immigrants or refugees. The course content addresses care issues across the lifespan.
An interactive and case-based approach is utilized to address mental health and addictions issues with an emphasis on critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills. Clinical experts discuss advanced health assessment, differential diagnoses for the presenting problem, relevant pathophysiology, red flags and how to triage patients who may need a higher level of care, the relevant diagnostic approach and tests, selection of appropriate interventions and treatments, indications for consultation and referral, and strategies for communication and effective management in transitions of care.
This is the first course in a 4-course Certificate in Mental Health and Addictions for Nurse Practitioners. The certificate builds upon the foundational knowledge acquired through entry-to-practice education and the acquisition of entry-to-practice competencies. The certificate will equip Nurse Practitioners with the knowledge and tools to confidently assess and develop a treatment plan for clients with mental health and/or addictions issues across the lifespan.
Prerequisites:
Currently registered as a Nurse Practitioner or a student in a nurse practitioner program.
Audience
Nurse Practitioners who wish to further develop their competency, knowledge, skill and clinical acumen in the care of clients with mental health and addictions issues. Course participants must hold current registration as a Nurse Practitioner in their jurisdiction or be a student in a nurse practitioner program.
Certificate Criteria
Participants must successfully complete all 4 courses, normally over a three-year period, to earn the Certificate in Mental Health and Addictions for Nurse Practitioners. A passing grade of 70% is set for each course. Courses offered by the Centre for Professional Development cannot be credited towards a degree program.
- Participants may take individual courses without completing the full certificate
- Courses may be taken in any order
Learning Objectives:
At the completion of the 4-course certificate program, learners will be able to:
Articulate the role and competencies of a Nurse Practitioner working with clients with mental health and addictions issues.
- Discuss key role and scope issues relevant to the NP role in mental health and addictions services.
- Demonstrate confidence to practice independently and collaboratively.
State the clinical care requirements and management for a wide variety of mental health and addiction issues in individuals across the lifespan, including the ability to:
- Conduct the appropriate advanced health assessment.
- Identify appropriate differential diagnoses for the presenting problem.
- Understand relevant pathophysiology.
- Recognize red flags and how to triage patients who may require a specialized and/or higher level of care.
- Identify appropriate diagnostic approach and tests.
- Select appropriate interventions, treatments and evaluation plans.
- Describe indications for necessary consultations and referral.
- Identify strategies for communication and effective management at transitions in care and for safe discharge.
Course Outline
| Time | Description | Faculty |
|---|---|---|
|
Week 1 |
The role of the NP in mental health and addictions |
Shannon Wright |
|
Week 2 |
Anxiety Disorders: Adult/Geriatric Focus |
Cindy Pritchard |
|
Week 3 |
Anxiety Disorders: Children/Adolescents |
Carole Gionet |
|
Week 4 |
Considerations in Indigenous Health |
Connie Foster |
|
Week 5 |
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Adult/Geriatric |
Brittany Peixoto |
|
Week 6 |
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Children/Adolescents |
Bridget Doan |
|
Week 7 |
Considerations for Homeless, Immigrants, Refugees |
Carrie Whitley |
|
Week 8 |
Final Examination |
Course Format
Delivery Mode
This online course is offered through the University of Toronto’s Learning Portal – QUERCUS. Each week, participants will be expected to view e-learning modules, review required readings and resources, and actively engage with learning activities that will focus on the application of learning. Learning activities and assignments/examinations will provide opportunity to apply learnings and receive feedback. It is anticipated that participants can expect to allocate approximately 5 or more hours a week for completion of a module as well as additional time for assignments.
Teaching Methods
Each week consists of a recorded lecture by expert clinician faculty who will be available for questions through the discussion board during their module. Each module focuses on discussion of the appropriate health assessment, relevant differential diagnoses, pathophysiology, red flags, use of diagnostic tests and screening tools, selection of appropriate interventions and treatments, and indications for referral and/or consultation, and considerations in transitions in care/discharge. Additional clinical resources are provided such as clinical practice guidelines, relevant practice standards and clinical tools for practice.
Mental Health 2 for Nurse Practitioners
This 8-week online course focuses on the role of the nurse practitioner in mental health and addictions in the following areas: depressive disorders, schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders, bipolar […]
Mental Health 3 for Nurse Practitioners
This 8-week online course focuses on the role of the nurse practitioner in mental health and addictions in the following areas: trauma, personality disorders with a focus on borderline personality, […]
Mental Health 4 for Nurse Practitioners
This 8-week online course focuses on the role of the nurse practitioner in mental health and addiction in the context of care in the following areas: substance-related and addictive disorders […]
Course Director
Cindy Pritchard
Nurse Practitioner, Psychosis Disorders/Prompt Clinic
Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences
Adjunct Lecturer, Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto
Faculty
Bridget Doan
Nurse Practitioner, Psychopharmacology Clinic, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehab Hospital
NP Psychotherapist, Whole Heart Mental Health and Wellness
Carole Gionet
Nurse Practitioner, Mental Health Access Program, Department of Psychiatry
Hospital for Sick Children
Brittany Medeiros-Peixoto
Community Psychiatry Clinic- Concurrent Disorders Program + General Psychiatry and Rapid Access Addiction Medicine Clinic
St Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton
Carrie Whittley
VoiceFound – The Clinic, Youth Services Bureau, Shephards of Good Hope, Apollo Research, Centre for Health Innovation.
Shannon Wright
Nurse Practitioner
Mental Health in Medicine Clinic, Centre for Mental Health
Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network
Adjunct Lecturer, Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto
Connie Foster
Nurse Practitioner, Primary Health Care
Manager, Rural NPLC, West Parry Sound Health Centre
Teaching Assistants
Carole Gionet
Nurse Practitioner, Mental Health Access Program, Department of Psychiatry
Hospital for Sick Children
Bridget Doan
Nurse Practitioner, Psychopharmacology Clinic, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehab Hospital
NP Psychotherapist, Whole Heart Mental Health and Wellness
Registration Information
Fees
- Early Bird price (ends September 6, 2025)
- $900 + HST
- Regular price (starting September 7, 2025)
- $1008+HST
- U of T Nursing Alumni save 15%*
- $855 + HST
- U of T Nursing Adjunct and Status Faculty save 15%**
- $855 + HST
- NPAO Members save 12%***
- $885 + HST
Site Groups
A group discount rate of 15% is available for site groups of three or more people. To book please contact pd.nursing@utoronto.ca.
Please Note
- Refund Policy – To withdraw from a course, send a written request to pd.nursing@utoronto.ca by September 6, 2025. No refunds will be given after this date. All refunds are subject to an administrative fee of $100 + tax. Alternatively, a colleague may attend in your place. Please send your substitution request at least 3 days prior to the course to pd.nursing@utoronto.ca.
- Registration deadline: October 6, 2025.
- U of T Nursing Alumni discount is available to participants who hold a BScN, MN, PMNP Diploma, MScN or PhD from the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto.
- U of T Nursing Faculty discount is available to participants who hold a current (at time of registration) faculty position, an adjunct appointment or a status appointment to the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto
- NPAO (Nurse Practitioner Association of Ontario) members may register at the NPAO rate which is 12% off the regular rate. NOTE: All submissions will be checked and verified for current NPAO membership status using the registrant’s name.
- Applicable taxes (13% HST) will be added to the registration fees.
- Course Cancellation Policy – The Centre for Professional Development reserves the right to cancel courses due to circumstances. The decision to cancel a course is normally made 15 days prior to the course. If you are enrolled in a course which is subsequently cancelled, you may apply your fee to another course, or receive a full refund. The Centre is not responsible for any travel or other expenses incurred by you.