3 min read

Let’s Talk About What We Don’t Talk About

Mental Health Week 2025: Unmasking Mental Health

May 5-11, 2025

Each year, Mental Health Week invites us to take an honest look at how we think, talk, and care about mental health. This year’s national theme, Unmasking Mental Health, asks us to reflect on what we hide and why. It’s a theme that resonates deeply, because so many of us carry struggles we don’t often speak about.

Maybe it’s:

  • A dad who shows up for his kids, even as he battles burnout.
  • A newcomer feeling the ache of loneliness but unsure how to reach out.
  • A teen who’s always cheerful on the outside but anxious underneath.
  • An older adult who chalks up sadness to “just getting older.”

These are real, human experiences, and they’re more common than we talk about. But too often, stigma, fear, or cultural expectations lead people to keep quiet. That silence can be heavy.

What Does It Mean to “Mask” Mental Health?

Masking happens when we hide parts of ourselves, such as our feelings, struggles, or pain, in order to feel safe, accepted, or “normal.” It is a protective strategy. But over time, it can lead to disconnection, exhaustion, and isolation.

Unmasking doesn’t mean sharing everything with everyone. It means giving ourselves permission to be honest, first with ourselves, then with people we trust. It’s about choosing vulnerability when we’re ready and creating spaces where others feel safe to do the same.

Because when we take off the mask, we invite others to do the same. That’s how real connection begins.

Mental Health Is Part of Being Human

Mental health is not something that only “some people” experience. It is part of every person’s life. Like physical health, our mental well-being exists on a spectrum. It can change based on life events, stress, relationships, and the resources we have access to.

At Carya, we see the courage it takes to open up. Every day, we support people through life transitions and challenges like grief, parenting stress, financial strain, and caregiving pressure. They come to us not because they are broken, but because they are human. And because everyone deserves a safe place to be heard, supported, and empowered to heal and grow.

How Carya Supports Mental Well-Being in Calgary

Our approach is rooted in compassion, evidence, and accessibility. Through individual counselling, group programs, and community-based initiatives, we work to:

  • Improve mental health and resiliency
  • Reduce stigma and isolation
  • Create welcoming spaces for connection and healing

From adult positive psychology groups to counselling for older adults and families, we provide support when it’s needed most. Our work is about creating those safe, judgment-free spaces, where people can simply be themselves.

You don’t have to have it all together to reach out. In fact, asking for support is one of the strongest, most courageous things a person can do.

You Are Not Alone

CLICK HERE TO EXPLORE OUR MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS