The Saskatchewan Government is providing $400,000 for mental health first aid training in Saskatchewan schools.

With the goal to have at least one staff member trained in every school across the province, mental health fist aid will be available to students when needed, similar to physical first aid.

“Our goal is to have at least one staff member in each school receive Mental Health First Aid training by the end of 2021,” Education Minister Dustin Duncan said in a release. “We are excited to support schools in ensuring students have access to mental health resources, and I encourage all provincial school divisions to take part to help remove the stigma around mental health.”

Mental Health First Aid is a training program developed by the Mental Health Commission of Canada. The in-person training is currently being transitioned to be available online in 2021.

The Ministry of Education is going to work with Saskatchewan school divisions to coordinate the training sessions, with little disruptions to the school day.

The province says online delivery will help keep the sessions safe for staff in these uncertain times.

Mental Health First Aid can be provided to a person who has a mental health concern, or a crisis.

Trainees are taught to recognize the the symptoms of mental health problems and how to provide initial help and guide a person toward the appropriate professional help.