Mental Health Providers

Training Opportunities

A Message to Mental Health Counselors: 

Approximately 45% to 80% of clients with a mental illness diagnosis are tobacco users compared to a 20% rate of tobacco use in the general population.  44% of all cigarettes sold in the United States are consumed by persons with a psychiatric diagnosis. As a result, those with mental health diagnosis die of tobacco-related disease at a much higher rate than the general population. Contrary to popular belief, most want to quit tobacco and many can succeed with help.  Individuals with mental health diagnosis should receive the same access to tobacco treatment – and the same opportunities for a healthier tobacco-free life as their counterparts in the general population.  Project Integrate rejects the stigmatizing assumption that those with mental illness do not want and cannot succeed in establishing a healthy tobacco-free life.

Mental health counselors are in an ideal position to assess their clients’ readiness to change their tobacco use and to help them move in the direction of quitting tobacco. But many counselors feel ill-equipped to talk to clients about this issue and to help them plan for change.  Listed below are training opportunities to assist you in integrating tobacco treatment into the course of mental health treatment. 

Training Opportunities

Training, events, and conferences focused on the many different areas of tobacco treatment are offered each year by The Partnership For A Tobacco-Free Maine (PTM) and its related public health and nonprofit partners. PTM, through its contractor The MaineHealth Center For Tobacco Independence (CTI) offers the following tobacco treatment training events.  (For information about the current year’s schedule and to register), click here. 

Tobacco Intervention Basic Skills Trainings

The Basic Skills Training teaches professionals how to incorporate tobacco treatment messages into their professional practices. Evidence-based information on how to conduct Brief Tobacco Interventions will be reviewed. The training is a pre-requisite for attendance of the annual Intensive Tobacco Treatment Training and Conference offered each spring.

Tobacco Intervention Basic Skills Training for Students

The Basic Skills Training teaches students how to incorporate tobacco treatment messages into their future professional practices. This training curriculum is being offered to all Maine colleges and universities which train students in the field of healthcare including, but not limited to: Schools of Nursing, Schools of Social Work, Counseling Programs, Dental Hygienist Schools, Respiratory Health Programs, Medical Schools and Schools of Pharmacy. There is no charge for this program. 

Intensive Tobacco Treatment Training and Conference

This advanced training is designed for healthcare and education professionals who are delivering or preparing to deliver intensive tobacco treatment services. For the fifth year, the Intensive Tobacco Treatment Training is being combined with a statewide conference, bringing together all those professionals in the state of Maine who are involved in providing evidence-based tobacco treatment services. Attendance of a Tobacco Intervention: Basic Skills Training is a prerequisite for attending this conference.

Webinars

A series of webinars is offered each year on current topics relevant to healthcare professionals.   There is no charge for attendance of these webinars.

CTI Treatment Center Mentoring Program

A goal of the PTM Tobacco Treatment Center conducted by the Center for Tobacco Independence is to advance the capacity and quality of intensive tobacco treatment intervention resources in the state. To this end, the center has developed a 1 day practicum for qualified tobacco treatment specialists who need or want additional training and guidance to improve their skills around delivery of intensive interventions in their own practice. The Treatment Center staff will mentor qualified specialists on an individual basis in a structured program that focuses on evidence-driven, best practices for tobacco treatment.

There is no charge for the Mentoring Program.

Helpers Training

NEW!

This new training component is intended to expand the number of compassionate and skilled helpers within our local communities who feel comfortable assisting their family member, co workers and friends.

The Helpers Trainings provide practical skills and information to both non-clinical professionals and to non-professional lay helpers who have a desire to assist Maine residents with quitting the use of tobacco. 

Become a Certified Helpers Trainer (CHT). A CHT can be any health professional with at least an Associates Degree who has been tobacco-free for at least one year.  The certification period is 3 years. CHT’s are authorized to schedule and conduct their own Helpers Trainings.

Additional Training Opportunities

In addition to the above-listed trainings, PTM also schedules topical trainings.  For a list of this trainings, as well as to view the schedule and registration information for all the training opportunities, please click here.