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Mental Health, Addictions, and Criminal Justice, Advanced Certificate

Building community through advocacy and social responsibility. Eight months, part-time, online at Camosun can prepare you to work together to address mental health addictions and criminal justice challenges.

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Check our current program availability.

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Program at a glance

Credential

Advanced Certificate

Work experience

None

Delivery

Online

Study options

Part-time

Open to International

No

Length

4 courses over 8 months

Building community through advocacy and social responsibility

Apply an interprofessional approach to the provision of services and support for individuals with mental health and substance use challenges in contact with mental health, social services, and the criminal justice system.

The Advanced Certificate in Mental Health, Addictions, and Criminal Justice is designed to broaden participants lens of practice and provide them with the knowledge, skills, and values to deliver and advocate for an integrated service model in the fields of criminal justice and mental health and addictions. The program prepares graduates to apply an inter-professional approach to the provision of services and supports for individuals with mental health or substance use challenges in contact with the criminal justice system.

Alumni of Mental Health, Addiction and Criminal Justice Program

Students build on their existing knowledge and skills to develop a shared foundational knowledge of the theories, systems, methods, and models of practice of the criminal justice and mental health disciplines, in addition to a common professional language and values.

Upon completion of the program, graduates will have an enhanced understanding of and ability to provide integrated services and supports, as well as to advocate for change in the systems and structures that individuals with mental health or substance use challenges experience in the justice system. Graduates will also have an increased understanding of the impact of systems, colonization, decolonization, and systemic racism on Indigenous peoples and communities.

Operating from a social justice perspective, the program emphasizes the values related to and importance of social responsibility, advocacy, community-capacity building, and inter-professional practice.

Are you passionate about social justice?

Operating from a social justice perspective, the Mental Health, Addictions, and Criminal Justice program emphasizes the values related to and importance of social responsibility, advocacy, community-capacity building, and interprofessional practice. The program provides a basis to build an environment where students in health, social services, and the criminal justice fields can develop collaborative, cooperative, and coordinated practice for providing client-centred care.

What to expect

The Advanced Certificate in Mental Health, Addictions, and Criminal Justice has been designed with working professionals in mind. The program is an interprofessional fully online eight-month program consisting of a series of four 7-week courses

Academic Term 1

In your first term, you’ll critically examine the intersection between the criminal justice and mental health systems and addictions, and apply an interprofessional approach to reviewing existing systems and organizations that service these populations.

Academic Term 2

In your second term, you’ll develop evidence-based approaches to support people facing mental health, substance use, and criminal justice challenges; develop approaches to address service barriers and challenges and explore contemporary social issues and perspectives through a social justice, human rights, advocacy and practice lens.

We’ll help you succeed

Upon completion of the program, you'll have an enhanced understanding of and ability to provide integrated services and supports, as well as to advocate for change in the systems and structures that individuals with mental health or substance use challenges and the justice system experience. You'll also have an increased understanding of the impact of systems, colonization, decolonization, including information related to the systemic racism of Indigenous peoples and communities.

Professional practice

As a graduate, you will enhance your existing skills to support you in the workplace and the community to better advocate, and meet the needs of clients. Our graduates are prepared to address challenges related to mental health, addictions, and criminal justice with an approach that is focused on problem solving in a collaborative integrated way. Professionals completing the program focus on ways to work together to better meet the needs of individuals and communities.

What you'll learn

Current students wanting information about your program, go to student planning in.

Program outline

For more details, including courses, please see the program outline in the Academic Calendar.

Program outline

Building community through advocacy and social responsibility

The program will include a focus on advocacy, preventative, and proactive practices as well as supporting those crossing service areas.

Term 1

In your first term, you’ll critically examine the intersection between the criminal justice and mental health systems and addictions, and apply an interprofessional approach to reviewing existing systems and organizations that service these populations.

Term 2

In your second term, you’ll develop evidence-based approaches to support people facing mental health, substance use, and criminal justice challenges; develop approaches to address service barriers and challenges and explore contemporary social issues and perspectives through a social justice, human rights, advocacy and practice lens.

Tuition and fees

Effective from September 1, 2024, to August 31, 2025

Estimated tuition

Tuition estimates are for the entire program.

Mental Health, Addictions, and Criminal Justice, Advanced Certificate

$2,231 (domestic)

Domestic tuition fees vary depending on the individual course fees for the classes you select.

Student fees

In addition to tuition estimates, student fees are calculated based on your enrolment. Refer to:Student Fees.

Financial assistance

You may need to find more than one source of funding to help pay for your education and living costs while attending college. Check out sources of money you don't need to pay back as well as those that need to be repaid.

Financial Aid & Awards

Admission Requirements

One of:

  • A certificate, diploma, or degree in social sciences or a related field from a recognized post-secondary institution.
  • ​A certificate, diploma, or degree from an unrelated field plus one year full-time work or volunteer experience, or equivalent in social services, health, addictions, mental health or criminal or social justice.

And all of:

  • A statement of Intention: Submission of a 400-500 word statement outlining motivation for entering the program and career goals.
  • English Proficiency: Completed self-declaration confirming level of English proficiency. Applicants to the program are expected to have English language proficiency with a strong recommendation of English 12 or higher.

When you apply you will need to submit proof that you meet the program admission requirements listed above. Where a letter grade is specified, you must have proof of that grade or higher.

For more details, including courses, please see the program outline in the Academic Calendar: Loading...

Please email your Statement of Intention in PDF format to admissions@camosun.ca. To discuss post-secondary credentials that may be applicable for admission to this program, please contact the Program Chair.

Ready to get started?

Check our current program availability.

Missing admission requirements?

You may be able to take an assessment or upgrade with us.

Need help applying?

Find out more on How to Apply or speak to an Admissions Advisor.

    Contact us

    If you have admissions questions contact us today!

    If you have questions about what you can expect to learn in your classes contactartsci@camosun.ca or the program chair.

    Faculty/staff profile

    Wendy Taylor

    Wendy Taylor

    Chair, Criminal Justice

    taylorw@camosun.ca
    250-370-3431
    Y 210B

    Faculty/staff profile

    Michelle Bass, IMHA Program Leader

    Michelle Bass

    Program Leader, Interprofessional Mental Health and Addictions (IMHA)

    bassm@camosun.ca
    250-370-4294
    Alex & Jo Campbell Centre for Health and Wellness (CHW)

    Faculty/staff profile

    Kristin Ross

    Kristin Ross

    Instructor

    ross@camosun.ca
    250-370-4292
    Alex & Jo Campbell Centre for Health and Wellness

    Faculty/staff profile

    Eva Silden

    Eva Silden

    Instructor, Criminal Justice

    silden@camosun.ca
    250-370-3331
    Y 200

    bus-students-atrium

    Learn more

    For more details, including courses, please see the program outline in the Academic Calendar.

    Contact information

    School of Arts & Science

    Campus location

    Fisher 104

    Location link

    Lansdowne Campus

    250–370–3431

    mhcj@camosun.ca