Many people have knowledge abot what to do in the face of a medical emergency and can provide some form of first aid. However the same cannot be said for psychiatric care. There continues to be a stigma about mental illness when there should not be and a new and innovative program has been established in Alberta to face this issue.

This week the Alberta Mental Health Board launched Mental Health First Aid Canada, a program designed to help change the way people respond to mental illness

• Ruby Brown, BScN, MBA, Vice-President Alberta Mental Health Board