As Mental Health Week kicks off, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on this year’s theme: There’s More to Me.
You may talk to the people in your life on a daily basis, but the truth is, the words that matter most (e.g. the honest ones, the hard ones, the brave ones)aren’t always easy to say. Mental health and addiction are complicated. Identity is layered. And all of us are carrying more than what people can see.
This week is about what happens when we make space for the full picture; because behind every role, every diagnosis, every “I’m fine,” is a story that deserves to be heard. Here’s what this year’s message means to us:
There’s more to every person than what you see: we all carry layers (grief, joy, stress, strength) that aren’t visible from the outside.
You shouldn’t have to hide parts of yourself to be accepted: whether you’re a student, an athlete, a farmer, or a frontline worker, you deserve to show up as your whole self.
Open and honest conversations connect us all: real conversations reduce shame, challenge stigma, and build trust.
Safe spaces create brave conversations: vulnerability doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when we build the conditions for it.
That includes conversations about addiction. We need to talk about it openly, compassionately and without judgement. Why? Because it’s a common misconception that you can easily recognize someone who is living in active addiction just by looking at them. But too often, because of the stigma that exists, the struggles people face are hidden beneath the surface. That’s why open and honest conversations are so important: they can save a life. More on this later this week.
We’ll be sharing content throughout the week from across our CMHA Ontario programs, each with a different lens on what it means to be seen and supported:
- Talk Today will show us there’s more to athletes than performance.
- Mental Health Works will highlight why real workplace wellness starts with real conversations.
- CICMH will speak to what students, and the staff who support them, are really carrying.
- Resilient Minds will focus on what frontline workers face behind the uniform.
- Your Health Space will share how micro-moments can shift healthcare culture.
- AgWO will give voice to rural mental health, where silence can be heavy.
- The HSJCC will explain why compassion-driven, trauma-informed approaches (like those championed by HSJCC and CMHA Ontario) are so vital.
And through it all, we’re continuing to challenge addiction stigma, because no one should be reduced to a label. And everyone is someone’s someone.
Connection doesn’t come from pretending everything’s fine. It comes from saying what’s real and knowing someone’s listening. Because open and honest conversations connect us all.
This week, we hope you’ll see yourself in some of these think pieces. And maybe, share your own. Follow along on all social platforms using #MentalHealthWeek2025, and on the CMHA Ontario social profiles.
Looking forward to this week ahead,
Need support?
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or substance use:
- Call or text 9-8-8 if you’re in crisis
- Connect with your local CMHA Ontario branch
- Call ConnexOntario at 1-866-531-2600 for 24/7 support
- In an emergency, call 9-1-1