Unmasking Mental Health
The theme for this year is “Unmasking Mental Health”, which encourages people to embrace honesty and vulnerability in their mental health journeys. Led by the Canadian Mental Health Association since 1951, the purpose is to raise awareness of the importance of mental health and reduce the stigma that still exists in some communities when people seek support for mental health challenges.
The theme for this year is “Unmasking Mental Health”, which encourages people to embrace honesty and vulnerability in their mental health journeys. Led by the Canadian Mental Health Association since 1951, the purpose is to raise awareness of the importance of mental health and reduce the stigma that still exists in some communities when people seek support for mental health challenges.
The CMHA says that ‘masking’ is hiding something about ourselves from others in order to feel safe or fit in. Things we might hide include our emotions, personality traits, symptoms of mental illness, having natural characteristics of neurodivergence, or our gender identity or sexual orientation. One way we mask is by presenting an idealized image of our life on social media. Masking can be exhausting and mentally straining. It can lead to isolation, disconnection from others, loneliness and loss of self-identity. We can feel emptiness and shame; and due to the stigma associated with mental illness, it may stop people from getting help when they need it.
We want to join with the CMHA and our many colleagues in our community in unmasking mental health and helping people to see they can be free to be their true selves.
