Kompass Blog

Updated October 2022

Mediation is not a regulated profession in Canada. There is no specific degree, diploma, or certificate you must have to start a career in mediation. 

That being said, most successful mediators have earned designations through the ADR Institute of Canada (ADRIC)—the country’s leading alternative dispute resolution organization. 

Both mediators and arbitrators can earn different kinds of professional designations through the Institute, depending on their educational qualifications and experience in the field. 

Which designations are available for mediators? How does one qualify? What is involved in gaining membership with the ADR Institute, and what can you expect in return? 

These are 5 quick facts every aspiring mediator should know about the ADR Institute—and laying the groundwork for a successful career in alternative dispute resolution.  

Updated December 2025

Anxiety and depression are two of the most common mental health issues on the planet.

There are some truly staggering statistics on how many people are suffering from these conditions, and how few receive appropriate care. 

In the United States alone, an estimated 18 per cent of the population—40 million people—have some form of anxiety. But only 10 per cent of those people will receive proper, effective treatment for anxiety. 

It’s a similar story with depression. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 332 million people worldwide suffer from depression.

Which brings us to the topic of today’s post: debunking harmful myths around anxiety and depression.

These myths perpetuate the cycle of ignorance and shame and create major barriers to improved mental health in our communities.

Hayley MacPhail has 20 years experience as a mediator and educator. She specializes in Family Mediation, and teaches an online mediation course at Kompass Professional Development.

If you're considering becoming a mediator (or just want to improve your conflict resolution skills), selecting the right training program can be a major challenge. There are so many options out there.

Updated December 2025

Although strides have been made to raise awareness and reduce stigma around mental illness, the issue remains shrouded in shame and secrecy.

Research clearly shows that millions of people across the globe are suffering from poor mental health. Yet health care providers and front-line community workers still lack training in how to identify and assist those in need.

And despite the prevalence of mental illness, there is a wide array of poisonous myths regarding the nature of mental health disorders—and the people who are afflicted by them.

Do you have questions about which mental illnesses are most common, their key characteristics, and treatment options?

If you work closely with the public, there is little doubt that you have encountered people suffering from one (or more) of the following five mental health issues.

This list isn't definitive, but it offers a good summary of attributes, statistics, and warning signs associated with these very common mental illnesses.

Updated December 2025

Do you work in a public-serving role? Are you in health care, education, social services, law enforcement, or some other community-serving profession? There is no doubt that you are coming into regular contact with people who suffer from poor mental health.

The Canadian Mental Health Association says one in five Canadians will face a mental health issue in any given year. This is a widespread problem that impacts people of all ages, education, cultural backgrounds, and income levels.

Mental health training is an absolutely crucial first step to reversing this situation.

Whether you're embarking on a career in mental health—or simply want to improve your ability to support people who are suffering—targeted training is the key.

These are five fundamental mental health skills every front-line, community-serving professional needs.

Updated December 2025

The global population of seniors is growing at a rapid rate. According to the World Health Organization, the worldwide number of people 60 and older will almost double between 2015 and 2050. 

As this number grows, healthcare providers are recognizing the increasing importance of geriatrics. Tending to the complex needs of our aging population demands a highly specialized skillset.

Unfortunately, the number of people with those skills seems to be shrinking. We just don't have enough geriatrics professionals, from pharmacy to home care to nursing to medicine.

This skills gap is creating opportunities for people who want to specialize in elder care—particularly people who are already working in the health care and social services fields.

Are you thinking of pursuing gerontology training to shift into geriatrics?  Take a look at 10 special skills you'll need to thrive in this role and deliver optimal support to aging patients.

Updated December 2025

If you work in a community-serving role, you've probably faced situations where you suspected someone was suffering from poor mental health—but you weren't sure what questions to ask or how to intervene.

What signals should you be looking for? When do you take action? What are some clear, universal signs that someone is at-risk and needs support?

These questions are particularly salient for people who work with youth and young adults.

Early intervention can help reduce the severity of a mental illness, and in some cases, delay or prevent its development altogether. Mental health training and awareness are key.

Obviously, a complete mental health assessment is required to make an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.

But as a first step, community-serving professionals can be on alert for symptoms, encourage open discussions, and identify where an assessment and further support may be needed.

These are five of the most common signs of poor mental health. One symptom alone may not indicate a serious problem, but combined, they signal a clear call for help.

Updated December 2022

If you're considering a career in alternative dispute resolution (ADR), you're probably familiar with practices like mediation and arbitration, which people use to resolve disputes out of court.

Given the time, expense, and sheer stress of litigation, it's no surprise that the field of ADR is growing rapidly. But if you're looking to capitalize on this momentum and start a career in arbitration, where do you begin?

How do you select a reputable program, and what are your career options as an arbitrator?

These are just some of the questions we get from prospective students who are considering arbitration training. And who better to answer them than David Merrigan? He's a highly experienced arbitrator who also developed our arbitration certificate.

So let's get started. Here are David's answers to your most frequently asked questions, along with some valuable advice to start your career.

Updated December 2025

Caring effectively and compassionately for seniors is an issue that touches every single one of us. Either we have a loved one who needs care, or we ourselves are facing the facts of growing old.

With populations of seniors skyrocketing across the globe, elder care is one of the most important health care and policy issues of our time. Demand is high for gerontology professionals, particularly front-line people who give direct support to aging community members.

But working in this field comes with a very special set of challenges. Older patients have unique needs—needs that often go unnoticed by health care providers and unfulfilled by local resources.

Working closely with the elderly can be incredibly rewarding, but you will need to develop a special skillset to succeed in this career. Take a look at some of the top challenges facing today's senior caregivers, and how gerontology training can help.

Updated December 2025

In recent years, there's been a major shift away from traditional litigation toward alternative dispute resolution (ADR) techniques such as mediation.

Mediation is generally less costly, stressful, and time-consuming than litigation—and offers a much higher degree of flexibility and personalization for clients.

However, in order to be effective, mediation must be a carefully structured, expertly led exercise. Lose control of the process, and negotiations will quickly devolve into chaos.

Formal mediation training teaches aspiring mediators a wide range of techniques they can use to resolve disputes. But even the most successful students and professional mediators occasionally fall into traps.

From losing neutrality to failing to contain and redirect destructive behaviours—these are five of the most common pitfalls you'll face as a mediator.