Mental Health and Addictions Diploma Program
46 weeks · Online · Evening classes
Help people affected by mental health and substance use challenges. Learn screening, assessment, counselling and crisis skills online in 46 weeks.
Questions? Call admissions at (416) 631-8298, Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm.
- Duration 46 weeks 18 courses
- Class schedule Mon to Fri 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm
- Delivery Online Live classes with your instructor
- Tuition from $6,500 With ACC Tuition Grant up to $4,000
- Credential Diploma Issued by Alpha Career College
Build the skills to support recovery
Entry-level mental health and addictions practitioners work with multidisciplinary teams in hospitals, residential programs, community agencies and outreach services.
You start with substance use and mental health across the lifespan, then move into referral, screening, assessment and treatment planning, counselling, group facilitation and program development. A virtual project ties it all together.
- Live online evening classes that fit around work and family
- Practical, career-focused learning with experienced instructors
- Admissions support from application to your first class
46 weeks, three milestones
Study online from anywhere, on a schedule built for working adults.
Learn
Live online classes
- Mon to Fri, 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm
- Tests and assignments online
- You need a laptop, desktop computer or tablet
Practise
Virtual project
- Practise your skills in a simulated mental health setting before you graduate
Graduate
Start your career
- Earn your diploma from Alpha Career College
- Career support from our team
18 courses built for the job
Select a course to see what it covers.
MHA 101 Understanding Substance Abuse
Students will explore a spectrum of substance use disorders and the compounds commonly misused.
MHA 102 Abnormal Psychology
Students will learn the interactions of various forces that contribute to psychopathology.
MHA 103 Understanding Concurrent Disorders
In this subject, students will be provided with an overview of concurrent disorders, and be introduced to treatments options about substance use and mental health problems and how they interact.
MHA 104 Sociology of Healthcare
Students will learn the three main areas in the field: the social patterning of health and illness, the social construction of health and illness, and the social organization of health care.
MHA 105 Cognitive Development and Mental Health Across the Lifespan
In this subject, students will learn the framework of physical, cognitive, social and emotional development across the lifespan including: birth and infancy, early and middle childhood, adolescence and early adulthood and middle and late adulthood.
MHA 106 Technology for Success Microsoft Office and 365
Students will be provided with the resources and guidance to develop skills in Microsoft Office.
MHA 108 Crisis Intervention
Students will learn the task model to provide a systematic way of dealing with people in crisis: Defining the Problem, Ensuring Client Safety, Providing Support, Examining Alternatives, Making Plans, and Obtaining Commitment.
MHA 109 Client Referral, Screening, Assessment, Treatment Planning
Students will explore the client referral, assessment and treatment planning process to ensure the delivery of effective and appropriate supports to clients.
MHA 111 Case Management
In this subject, students will learn a step-by-step guide through the case management process, from intake and assessment to referrals and termination.
MHA 112 Counselling Principles
In this subject, students will learn the basic skills of the counselling or psychotherapy session: listening, influencing, and integrating these skills into an effective session with individual and multicultural sensitivity.
MHA 113 Group Facilitation
Students will learn the "what is" and the "how to" of group counseling, along with the latest research, ethical guidelines, and practices.
MHA 114 Medications (Pharmacology)
Students will learn the principles of pharmacology and calculations in a simplified step-by-step process.
MHA 115 Prevention and Health Promotion
Students will obtain a firm foundation in health promotion and understand the process of planning, implementing and assessing programs in the real world.
MHA 116 Family and Social Support
In this subject, students will learn how counselors work with families where a family member has an addiction or mental health issue.
MHA 117 Trauma-Specific Care
In this subject gives an overview of trauma response and treatment.
MHA 118 Issues and Ethics in Healthcare and Self Care Practices
Ethical issues in health care and self-care practices for helping professionals.
MHA 119 MHA Community Development and Outreach
In this subject, explores the issues facing Canadian social work, human services and community health professionals towards influencing community change.
MHA 120 MHA Mental Health and Addictions Virtual Project
In this subject, students are provided with an experiential opportunity to practice emerging skills, knowledge, and attitudes required to be an effective helping professional in a professional mental health setting.
Every student can receive an ACC Tuition Grant
Your ACC Tuition Grant is applied to tuition after you enrol. Payment plans are available.
Tuition after grant
Save up to $4,000 with an ACC Tuition Grant
Spread your tuition over monthly payments
Plus a $100 registration fee . ACC Tuition Grants cannot be combined with Better Jobs Ontario.
Enrol NowAt a glance
Talk to admissions about the option that fits you.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| ACC Tuition Grant | Up to $4,000 |
| Payment plan | Monthly |
| Better Jobs Ontario | 1-437-826-9676 |
What you need to apply
- 1
Prior education An OSSD, a foreign high school diploma evaluated in Canada, or a score of 16 on the Wonderlic SLE (administered by ACC)
- 2
Age 18 years of age or older on or before the program starts
Good to know
- Classes are live and online, so you can study from home
- You need a laptop, desktop computer or tablet
Not sure where to start?
An admissions advisor can review your documents with you.
Where graduates work
Graduates of the Mental Health and Addictions Diploma work in settings such as:
- Addictions crisis worker
- Withdrawal management counsellor
- Addictions counsellor
- Case manager
- Community support worker
- Group facilitator
- Mental health support worker
- Outreach services advisor
- Residential care worker
- Youth worker
"I highly recommend Alpha Career College because, first of all, they gave me the tools to be successful as a new immigrant here in Canada. They were so patient with me!"
Alpha Career College MHA graduate More student experiencesQuestions about the MHA program
How long is the program, and when are classes?
The program takes 46 weeks. Live online classes run Mon to Fri, 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm. The next intake starts May 17, 2027.
Is the program online?
Yes. Classes are live and online with your instructor, so you can study from home. You need a laptop, desktop computer or tablet and a reliable internet connection.
How much does it cost?
Tuition is $10,500 plus a $100 registration fee. Every student can receive an ACC Tuition Grant of up to $4,000, so tuition can be as low as $6,500. Payment plans are available. ACC Tuition Grants cannot be combined with Better Jobs Ontario. See Grants & Bursaries.
What do I need to apply?
An OSSD, a foreign high school diploma evaluated in Canada, or a score of 16 on the Wonderlic SLE (administered by ACC). 18 years of age or older on or before the program starts.
What do I receive when I finish?
When you complete all program requirements, you receive a diploma issued by Alpha Career College.
Start your MHA career at Alpha Career College
Enrol online today, or talk to an admissions advisor about the next intake.
Approved as a vocational program under the Ontario Career Colleges Act, 2005. Alpha Career College reserves the right to modify start dates before classes begin. Schedules, offerings, tuition and program details are subject to change without notice.
