Running a business is exciting—but it can also be stressful. For rural entrepreneurs living with disabilities or health conditions, those challenges can feel even heavier. At Community Futures, we believe that supporting your success means supporting your whole well-being. That’s why many Community Futures staff receive Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training.

What Does This Mean for You?

When you connect with an EDP Coordinator or other Community Futures staff member, you’re speaking with someone who understands more than business plans and loan applications. MHFA training gives our staff the tools to:

• Recognize when someone might be struggling with mental health or stress
• Respond with empathy and practical steps
• Guide you toward resources that can help

It’s not about replacing professional care—it’s about making sure you feel heard, respected, and supported as you navigate entrepreneurship.

Why We Invest in This Training

Entrepreneurship can be isolating, especially in rural Alberta. We know that mental health challenges can affect confidence, decision-making, and even the ability to keep a business running. By training our staff in MHFA, we’re creating a safer, more supportive space for conversations that matter.

Have You Considered Mental Health First Aid Training?

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) provides the knowledge, skills, and attitudes for participants to recognize changes in mental health, respond supportively, and apply practical actions for declining mental health and crisis situations. It helps participants build confidence, reduce stigma, and enhance their own mental health.

--From the Opening Minds website

If you'd like to get trained, provide training for your staff, or find someone in Alberta offering MHFA courses, go to: https://openingminds.org/courses/

At Community Futures, we’re committed to helping rural entrepreneurs thrive—not just in business, but in life. MHFA is one more way we put that commitment into action.