The 23-year-old public speaker was diagnosed three years ago with bipolar disorder, a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks.
“It’s pretty well managed,’’ she says of her condition.
“It’s a chronic mental health issue, which means it will not be cured.’’
For the past two years, Thomas, a resident of Fredericton, N.B., has been teaching a mental health first aid course that was created by the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC), which leads the development and dissemination of innovative programs and tools to support the mental health and wellness of Canadians.
Thomas says the course offers an introduction to mental health and stigma reduction, including crisis intervention for substance-related disorders, anxiety and trauma disorder, as well as mood disorder and for psychotic disorder.
There is a growing interest in the program among front-line health workers and first responders, she notes.
“It’s really a great course for anyone who is in any mental health field,’’ she adds.
Thomas will be bringing the two-day course to P.E.I. for the first time on Aug. 24 and 25 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. both days in the Health Sciences Building at UPEI.
The course can accommodate 25 people.
“Typically, my courses sell out,’’ says Thomas.
To learn more about the course or to register, contact Thomas at 780-706-9536 or email at [email protected].
