Andrew James Norton
and Associates
BIOGRAPHY
Andrew has over thirty years experience working in health care and health-related education. Following an education in Chemistry, he qualified as a Registered General Nurse in the United Kingdom and worked in an Accident and Emergency setting before undertaking post-registration training in Psychiatry. Taking a position in a Community Drugs and Alcohol Service, he helped to establish Needle Exchange schemes, Community Methadone Consumption Clinics, and Primary Care detoxification programmes.
Continuing his education, he attended courses in HIV and Drug Use at The Maudsley and Bethlam Hospital; HIV Counselling at St Charles Hospital; Counselling Skills Training at Durham University, and, St George’s Hospital Medical School where he was awarded a Master’s of Science (MSc) degree in Addictive Behaviours. His dissertation focussed on the attitudes, values, and beliefs of community staff in relation to HIV and substance use. As such, he brings a focus on stigmatizing behaviours to his training.
He was granted the status of Visiting Lecturer in Addictions at Teesside University and developed a number of elective modules for Psychiatric Nursing and Allied Professionals, Certified courses for post-secondary students while continuing to practice as a Lead Clinical Nurse Specialist for the local Health Authority.
Since relocating to Canada, he continued his Nursing Studies gaining Registered Nurse status for working in British Columbia, focusing on integrating Mental Health and Addictions work.
More recently, his focus is training professional, allied, and community members in Suicide Interventions.
He is a fully Registered and Licensed Trainer for safeTALK, ASIST, and suicide to Hope (see courses on offer for a fuller description) and a Consulting Trainer for LivingWorks.
He is also an Instructor for safeTALK, allowing him to run Training for Trainer events.
Recently retired, he continues to coordinate the organizing and delivering of ASIST training for Island Health as a casual employee and also mentors newly trained individuals in ASIST. He provides ongoing support for trainers employed or allied to the First Nations Health Authority on Vancouver Island.
As well as providing training for all levels of suicide intervention, he can offer Mental Health First Aid training. See the MHFA page for more information.