The COVID-19 pandemic taught us many lessons. Lessons about loss, identity; managing our finances. Perhaps the biggest lesson it has taught us is the importance of taking care of our mental health. The isolation and stress the pandemic produced underscored for people across the world that they need to prioritize their mental health. It was a call to action that the world as a whole collectively answered. Caring about our mental health is critical. Especially since increasing numbers of teenagers and even children suffer from depression and anxiety — the numbers having doubled from pre-pandemic levels.
For far too long too many people have kept mum about mental health issues. Depression and anxiety are common, so it is comforting to note that more and more people are coming forward and speaking about their experiences with these inflictions. The stigma around mental health is slowly dissipating. However, it cannot disappear fast enough. People still believe that having a mental health issue means one is ‘broken’ or weak. Even with the support and understanding that is gaining ground, much shame is associated with being mentally ill. As you can see there are two parts to mental health — one is caring for and prioritizing one’s own mental health and the other to accepting mental illness on the same lines as any other physical illness.
Yet, this is not a new conversation. The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) has hosted Mental Health Awareness Week every year since 1951. Mental Health Week is observed by the CMHA in the first week of May. In 2022, Mental Health Week will be observed from May 2 to May 8. Bear in mind, that this is categorically different from Mental Illness Awareness Week, or MIAW which is usually observed in October. While both seek to increase awareness about mental health - one is aimed at taking care of mental health in ourselves and the community around us, while the other is aimed at increasing awareness about mental illness. Now that we have laid any confusion to rest, let us focus on Mental Health Week.
What is Mental Health Week all about?
Mental Health Week is a “Canadian tradition, with communities, schools, and workplaces rallying to celebrate, protect and promote mental health. The core objective of Mental Health Week is to promote mental health because mental health is something we can promote and protect, not just something we can lose,” says the CMHA’s website on Mental Health Week.
Mental Health Week Theme 2022
The theme of Mental Health Week in 2022 is #GetReal. The idea behind this theme is that while most Canadians may ask their family members, friends, and colleagues how they are, it is not a question that is answered truthfully. Most would reply with a positive response such as, “good” or “fine”. Many may even stick to the more neutral response of, “not bad!”. However, the reality may be that they are suffering, overwhelmed, or simply unable to ask for the help they need. After all, 40% of Canadians say their mental health has deteriorated since the onset of the pandemic
The #GetReal theme serves as a call to get real about how one is actually feeling and coping. “‘Fine’ keeps us at arm’s length from real social connections with others. Every time we just go through the motions, we miss a chance to connect with others in a meaningful way. Each year, 1 in 5 Canadians will experience a mental illness or mental health issue, but 5 in 5 Canadians have mental health—we all need social connection.”
On the flip side, the theme #GetReal for Mental Health Week in 2022 also encourages those who are asking the question to seek a response, and truly listen to the answers they may be getting. To ask and listen with empathy is a sub-theme that is also presented under the #GetReal umbrella. This is best summarized by the tagline, “before you weigh in, tune in”. This line refers to how it is a human tendency to dole out advice or counter any problems people may share with our own set of anecdotes or experiences with the same problem. Instead, the Canadian Mental Health Association asks us to be better listeners. To empathize with any issues a person is facing, rather than play counsellor or therapist — or worse, try to top their problems by talking about our own.
How can I observe Mental Health Week in 2022?
There are many ways you can observe Mental Health Week in 2022 - both online, on social media, or in your daily life. Here are a few ways you can observe Mental Health Week this year:
- Engage with the CMHA on social media with hashtags #GetReal #GetLoud and #MentalHealthWeek:
We spend a large portion of our time online. In fact, you’re online right now, reading this article about Mental Health Week. The internet is a place to get news and voice our opinions. By liking, commenting, and sharing the posts and resources the Canadian Mental Health Association puts out as part of Mental Health Week 2022, you can do your bit to increase awareness about mental health within your circles. This has an added advantage of signalling that you care about the mental health of those around you. Who knows, it may just be what someone in your life needs to see in order to feel comfortable talking to you about their mental health, knowing that you will #GetReal and listen to them with an empathetic ear. You can follow the Canadian Mental Health Association on almost all popular social networking platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
- Join the CMHA for a virtual event on exploring your own empathy:
Titled ‘Exploring Empathy: A Canadian Conversation’, this virtual event on Zoom (that you can register for beforehand) will be held on May 2 at 12 noon EST. The session will kick off the CMHA Mental Health Week and feature speakers such as Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, award-winning humanitarian and CMHA National Volunteer; Michael Landsberg, Mental Health Speaker & Founder of #SickNotWeak; and Kayla Breelove Carter, Clinical Traumatologist. It is planned to last for an hour and involve “a thoughtful conversation on how to bring empathy to life.” You can even choose to watch the event through a Facebook Live on CMHA National’s Facebook page. If you or someone you know may find this event helpful, then please do register and reserve your spot for the Zoom session.
- Create dialogues about mental health in your community and practise empathetic listening
Whether in your home, gym, workplace, or social circle, start dialogues about mental health. This will not only help raise awareness, but also signal to anyone in distress that they can approach you to speak about their struggles with mental health. Or if you feel conscious about getting vocal about mental health, you can follow a simple exercise in empathetic listening instead. When someone is speaking, try to really listen to them, rather than adding your own opinion or inputs. By doing this regularly, you will become a better listener and be able to truly be there for anyone who may need to speak to you in the future.
- Go beyond ‘fine’ with your loved ones
Ask those you are close to, like friends and family, about how they are feeling or have been feeling lately. If they respond with the standard polite responses, you can ask them how they’re really feeling and wait for a more detailed answer. Make sure you don’t come across as probing or nosy, but simply concerned about their general well-being. You may even add how you have been feeling so they may be encouraged to open up to you in turn. Make sure to keep it short though, and refrain from reacting with your own biases as you are trying to truly allow them a safe space to talk about their mental health.
Remember, as the #GetReal campaign suggests, make sure you are listening with empathy. Some examples shared by the CMHA on how to be empathetic include:
When someone is struggling, you don’t have to fix their pain. Tune in and see things through their eyes. This is empathy.
We may be different but we’re not on different sides. See the world as others do. This is empathy.
You can understand even if you don’t agree. Understand someone’s feelings. This is empathy.
- Listen to your body and mind
While it’s great that you may be trying to develop empathy towards others during Mental Health Week this year, make sure to tune in to your own body and mind too, to improve and maintain your own mental health. If you’re experiencing any symptoms of stress or anxiety, make sure to reach out to get the help you need. You may also choose to set some time aside for mental wellness practices such as journaling, mindfulness exercises, or meditation. After all, you can only fill another’s cup when your own is full.
We hope you have found these tips and resources useful. May you have a truly empathetic Mental Health Week in 2022!