This year, Mental Health Week will take place from May 5th to 11th. The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA)’s theme is "Unmasking Mental Health." This theme serves as an important reminder of our shared responsibility to challenge the unfair judgments and negative assumptions surrounding mental illnesses and addiction.
"Unmasking Mental Health" addresses the experience of many people living with mental health challenges, who often feel the need to hide behind a "mask" to protect themselves from judgment and discrimination. This year, we are all encouraged to look beyond the surface to truly see everyone for their whole selves. Embracing the concept of unmasking – through self-acceptance, honesty and openness – can lead to improved mental health and wellness for everyone.
Taking care of our mental health, and supporting others, requires us to pay attention and be thoughtful. It's important to create a space where we can understand how we and others are feeling and what might be needed. Most importantly, it takes all of us working together as a community to notice when someone is struggling, reach out to them and care for one another as we all work towards better well-being.
Everyone's experiences are different, and so are their mental health needs. How you and your family engage with Mental Health Week might be unique to you. You might find it helpful to think about how we can all work to "unmask" mental health by having open conversations and learning more about available resources.
The OCDSB’s Mental Health Team has compiled activities and links to help us all focus on how we can challenge stigma and create a more supportive community where everyone feels safe to be themselves. We hope these resources inspire you to think about how we can all contribute to a community where we see each other fully and support each other's mental health and well-being.
As we begin Mental Health Week, we start by observing Red Dress Day - also known as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls Two-Spirit, Transgender and Gender-diverse+ People. On this day, we acknowledge and examine the systemic violence and discrimination experienced by Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQIA+ community members.
We honour all those whose lives have been lost and we stand with the families who are grieving their loved ones. Let this day bring increased personal awareness and a deeper collective commitment to societal change and justice in offering hope, resilience, love and belonging for all people.
Today, we invite you to take a mindful walk. Slowing down, moving your body and connecting with nature are calming and grounding practices that can ease a heavy heart. This is also a wonderful activity to do as a family.
Conversation Starters:
- Why do you think it is important to stay in the moment? What sometimes gets in the way of this?
- What is one thing you notice right now that you haven't really paid attention to before? What can you feel, smell, taste, hear and see?
- Imagine you had a “pause button” for your mind. When would you want to use it?
- How can we remind ourselves and each other to take mindful moments during the day?
Resources and Activities:
Today, we invite you to explore the theme of “Unmasking Mental Health” by talking about stigma. Mental health stigma involves the unfair and negative attitudes, beliefs and behaviors directed towards people with mental health and addiction issues. To create environments where everyone feels they belong, it’s important to educate yourself, reflect on your own attitudes and beliefs and make space to talk openly about mental health and substance use.
Check out Stigma and The Power of Language tip sheet, created by the OCDSB’s Youth Action Committee on Mental Health, to support your conversations.
Conversation Starters:
- Everyone needs help sometimes. Who can you talk to and ask for help if you need it? Who is part of your circle of care?
- Share the importance of reaching out for help and discuss together what can get in the way. Take the time to have an open conversation about the importance that we all have a community of care.
Resources and Activities:
Today, we pause to embrace the power of gratitude. Research supports how acknowledging the positive aspects of our lives – the supportive people, the small joys, the valuable experiences – can shift our perspective and nurture a sense of well-being.
Gratitude is about taking a moment to pause and reflect. Viewing the world through a lens of gratitude can help us notice and appreciate the good things around us. Take a moment each day to identify or write down the things, people and moments that you are thankful for. What made you laugh or smile? Be intentional about finding one good thing each day.
Conversation Starters:
- Take turns sharing three things you are grateful for today.
- If you were to write a thank you note to someone, who would you write it to and why?
- How do we show gratitude and caring for ourselves and others in our family?
- Is there anyone we can reach out to this week to show our appreciation?
Resources and Activities:
Today, we are focusing on kindness and community. In a world that is more digitally connected than ever, we can still feel isolated from one another and from our communities. Kindness connects us all. Try one of these activities at home to focus on kindness and paying it forward to others.
Conversation Starters:
- What do acts of kindness look like, and why are they important?
- Reflect on a time you have received kindness from others or have demonstrated kindness to someone else. How did that feel?
- Is there someone you feel could use a little more kindness these days? How can we help?
Resources and Activities:
Today, we are talking about how to look after our own mental health. This can involve self-care (practicing activities that boost our well-being), self-compassion (treating ourselves with kindness) and positive self-talk (having an encouraging inner dialogue). We hope today provides an opportunity for both you and your children to explore what keeps you – and them – mentally healthy.
Conversation Starters:
- What is one thing you did today, just for you, that felt good?
- What does it mean to be kind to yourself, especially when you make a mistake?
- What is one small act of self-care we can each commit to over the next week?
- Reflect on how you recharge individually and together as a family.
Resources and Activities:
Looking for other resources to keep the conversation going during Mental Health Week and year-round? Here are some helpful links from the OCDSB and School Mental Health Ontario (SMHO):