All About Mental Health Week
- Agnes Kopij
- May 6
- 4 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
This week is Mental Health Week! What is this week all about?
History of Mental Health week
Mental Health week was created by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) in 1951. It is a week to encourage conversations surrounding mental health, finding ways to improve or maintain our mental health, and to have the opportunity to learn more about mental health. Every year there is a different theme, and this year's theme is Unmasking Mental Health.
This year's theme highlights how mental health and substance use challenges can cause us to “mask” in order to protect ourselves from judgement. Many individuals feel pressured to hide these struggles due to stigma, which can lead to disconnection and isolation. This Mental Health Week (May 5-11), we’re encouraging others to embrace honesty and vulnerability, and to see others as whole people, beyond what’s on the surface. By being open and vulnerable with each other, not only can we create deeper connections with one another but we can also help foster a compassionate and supportive community.
What is Masking?
Masking can look like hiding something about oneself from others, including emotions, behaviours, etc.. The reason that someone might mask differs, but it can be due to pressure to fit in, fear of judgement, fear of discrimination at work or school, lack of trusted support, etc. Masking can help people manage social situations, maintain privacy, and feel safe. Individuals living with mental illness and addiction may need to mask in order to keep a job, receive or find housing, or just to be accepted. We often respond to the question of “How are you?” with “I’m fine,” when in reality we may not be doing well; we might be struggling with something or having a bad day. Someone with a mental health challenge or addiction may keep their “I’m fine” mask on most of the time. Masking has the potential to worsen mental and physical health concerns.
Masking can also look like:
Hiding gender identity or sexual orientation to be physically or psychologically safe
Hiding an invisible disability, including a mental illness
Hiding natural characteristics of neurodivergence (for example: ADHD, autism, dyslexia) to fit in with what is considered “normal”
Hiding a substance use problem or using substances to cope with a mental health concern, stress, etc.
Portraying an idealized version of one’s life on social media
There’s More to Me
“There’s More to Me” is CMHA’s slogan for their #UnmaskedMentalHealth campaign. It’s a wonderful reminder that “normal” is a social construct. We all have different experiences, thoughts, feelings, identities, behaviours, etc. Of course some things may be more common, but that doesn’t make them the standard to live by. The idea of “normal” changes all the time, and it differs based on culture. There is truly no “normal” way to behave, feel, or act. The famous saying “never judge a book by its cover” applies; we all deserve to feel seen and heard, and to express ourselves without judgement. By challenging stigma and discrimination and being compassionate towards ourselves and others, we are all made to feel safe to be who we are. Let’s unmask mental health together.
How can you celebrate Mental Health Week?
Wednesday May 7th, 11:00-11:45 am ET: Building a Supportive Workplace - designed for both leaders and teams, creating a more inclusive and mentally healthy workplace.
Thursday, May 9th at 11:00 am ET: Unmasking Your Stress: Practical Tools for Self-Care - helping individuals maintain and manage stress with the use of interactive scenarios, reflection, etc. Provides the tools for stress management and highlights self-care as an essential part of long-term wellbeing.
Toolkits and more information
The CMHA offers toolkits for teachers, workplaces, journal activities, fact sheets etc. that you can access here.
Learn more!
What better opportunity to learn more about mental health than Mental Health Week? Here are some resources with some great information on mental health:
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) has something called Mental Health 101, a series of free online tutorials that provide information on Mental Health, Addiction and Depression.
The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) offers lots of information surrounding general mental health, age-related mental health, specific mental illness information, how to cope with certain situations, etc. here
MindYourMind also offers mental health tools, stories, etc. for youth and young adults. They also offer information on crisis support and other very important resources.
ConnexOntario is a great resource for information about mental health and addictions, finding services. They offer an email/text message service that helps people in Ontario find the support that works best for them.
Take care of yourself
As spring has finally come here in Canada, go enjoy the nice weather, whether that’s just by soaking up the sun or going on a walk.
Rest without guilt! Your energy is so valuable, let yourself take a break and recharge.
Watch your favourite movie, cook your favourite meal, limit your screen time if you can, do something for you.
Bring out your journal, and if you’re finding it hard to think of something to write about search up some journal prompts to get you started
Spend time with people you love and always reach out for help if you need it.
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