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Mental Health Week 2025: Unmasking Mental Health

Mental Health Week 2025: Unmasking Mental Health

_{May 5, 2025}
_{By Marco Campana, Knowledge Mobilization and Social Action Coordinator, Access Alliance}

Text bubble with text that reads: Smiling Through the Pain. Facing mental health struggles often means putting on a “mask” to shield ourselves from shame and misunderstanding. Newcomers often feel pressure to show resilience, even when they are experiencing individual and collective grief.

Living with a mental health or substance use challenge is hard enough. Masking can make it even harder. Living with mental health challenges often forces people to hide behind a “mask” to protect themselves from judgment and discrimination. But the heavier the stigma, the heavier the mask becomes. The more isolated we feel.

This May 5-11, we’re encouraging people across Canada to look beyond the surface and see the whole person. By embracing honesty and vulnerability, we open the door to deeper connections and the mental health benefits that come with it. Let’s create a ripple effect of courage and understanding across the country.

Each day this week we’ll be posting a new message #UnmaskingMentalHealth. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X to learn more, share, and support each other.

Here is a bit of what you can expect to see this week:

Smiling through pain is common for many newcomers facing individual & collective grief—loss of homeland, identity, connection. Let’s look past the “mask” & see the whole person.

Collective grief doesn’t disappear—it lingers in silence, in what’s left behind. Let’s make space for that mourning.

Grief & joy can live side by side. What does it mean to carry both?

Grief isn’t only about people—it’s about lost culture, language, identity. Even if it’s unspoken, your grief is real.

Collective healing starts with recognition. Newcomers don’t just need support—they need to be seen.

Accessing Mental Health Services

Our mental health services target Toronto’s most vulnerable residents: immigrants, newcomers, refugees, non-status individuals and their communities. We are inclusive of youth, couples, families and 2SLGBTQI+ newcomers. We support those referred with a mental health diagnosis or presenting with other mental health issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety or depression. We currently provide counselling to Access Alliance clients who are connected with one of our primary health care providers.

Reading and talking about mental health can be difficult. If you do not have a primary healthcare provider or are not a registered Access Alliance client and need support, please access the following resources for additional supports:

Mental health resources available within the City of Toronto (PDF 85 KB).
Mental health drop-in resources available to youth (PDF 72 KB)

If you are in crisis, please call 211.