Flexible Delivery | Fully Customizable | First Nations–Focused
Strong Minds, Strong Foundations is a culturally respectful, trauma-aware workshop designed to support First Nations adults in understanding mental health, managing stress, and building emotional wellness skills that can be used at home, at work, and in the community.
Mental health affects every part of our lives — our relationships, families, employment, and community roles. This program creates a safe, supportive space for participants to learn practical tools, reduce stigma, and strengthen personal well-being.
Who This Program Is For
- First Nations adults
- Community members, staff, and program participants
- Employment & Training, Ontario Works, Jordan’s Principle, Health & Wellness, and Community Programs
- Individuals experiencing stress, burnout, or emotional overwhelm
- Participants with no prior mental health training or knowledge
No experience is required. Content is presented in clear, accessible language and grounded in real-life experiences.
Program Overview
This workshop focuses on practical, everyday mental wellness, not clinical or diagnostic approaches. Participants learn how mental health shows up in daily life and how to respond in healthy, constructive ways.
During this program, participants explore:
- What mental health really means in everyday life
- How stress affects the mind, body, emotions, and spirit
- Identifying personal stress triggers and early warning signs
- Coping with anxiety, burnout, and daily pressures
- Grounding techniques and emotional regulation skills
- Building a personal mental wellness plan
- When and how to seek support
- Reducing stigma and fostering understanding
Participants leave with tools they can use immediately — not just information.
Fully Customizable to Community Needs:
While commonly delivered as a 3-day workshop, Strong Minds, Strong Foundations is fully customizable. Communities can choose:
Program Length
- One-day or two-day condensed delivery
- Three-day standard workshop
- Extended delivery with deeper reflection and activities
- Sessions spaced over weeks instead of consecutive days
Content Focus
The program can be adapted to emphasize:
- Workplace stress and burnout
- Parenting and family stress
- Employment readiness and accountability
- Emotional regulation and reactions
- Self-care and boundaries
- Community wellness and support systems
Group Structure
- Small or large groups
- Staff-specific delivery
- Mixed community participant groups
- Trauma-aware pacing and delivery
First Nations–Focused & Trauma-Aware:
This workshop is designed with an understanding of the unique historical, social, and intergenerational factors that impact mental health in many First Nations communities.
The approach is:
- Culturally respectful
- Trauma-aware and strengths-based
- Non-judgmental and supportive
- Focused on practical tools, not labels
Participants are never pressured to share personal experiences. Safety, respect, and choice are central to the delivery.
Why Communities Bring This Workshop In
Communities choose Strong Minds, Strong Foundations because it:
- Supports mental wellness and emotional resilience
- Builds life skills that support employment and stability
- Helps reduce stigma around mental health conversations
- Strengthens individual and community capacity
- Encourages accountability, self-awareness, and healthy coping
- Creates safer, more supportive workplaces and programs
This workshop supports both individual well-being and community functioning.
Why Funders Support This Program:
This program aligns strongly with funding priorities because it:
- Promotes mental wellness and prevention
- Builds life and employment-related skills
- Encourages accountability and self-management
- Reduces barriers to participation and success
- Supports long-term community capacity building
- Is flexible and adaptable to multiple funding streams
Funders value this program because it focuses on practical outcomes, not one-time awareness.
Delivery Options:
- In-person delivery within the community
- Virtual delivery where appropriate
- Custom schedules to match funding timelines
- Group-based discussions, activities, and guided reflection
Outcomes Participants Can Expect:
After completing this workshop, participants often report:
- Greater understanding of their mental health
- Improved ability to manage stress and emotional reactions
- Increased confidence in seeking support
- Better communication and self-awareness
- Reduced stigma and shame around mental health
- Stronger sense of personal responsibility and balance
Bring Strong Minds, Strong Foundations to Your Community:
If your community is seeking a practical, respectful, First Nations–focused mental wellness workshop, Strong Minds, Strong Foundations offers meaningful tools that create real change.
We work closely with communities to ensure the program:
- aligns with community priorities
- meets funding objectives
- supports participants in a safe and respectful way
