Mental Health Week…and beyond

Donate a Car Canada is so very proud to work alongside dozens of mental health charities across the country! Thousands of donation dollars are raised for wellbeing every year. And we see those dollars being put to exceptional use in providing advocacy, programming, and compassionate support in communities just like yours. Day after day, month after month, year upon year. This is definitely more than a one week gig for your local, regional, and country-wide wellbeing charities!

Fast facts | The CMHA breaks it down

Mental health and illness: what is the difference?

• Illness and health are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same thing.
• “Mental health” is a concept similar to “physical health”: it refers to a state of well-being. It includes our emotions, feelings of connection to others, our thoughts and feelings, and being able to manage life’s highs and lows.
• The presence or absence of a mental illness is not a predictor of being healthy mentally; someone without a mental illness could have poor mental health, just as a person with a mental illness could have excellent mental health.

Read more on the CMHA website!

What does this have to do with me?

It has really only been in my lifetime that we have started talking openly about this aspect of our wellbeing. If you are a little older, you may well remember a time when feelings simply were not discussed. Maintaining composure and bottling things up were signs of strength. We have moved beyond that, now. There is a growing permission to name what is true for all of us: we are resilient; we are vulnerable.

MHW goes a long way to expanding this open understanding.

Our emotional and processing health needs the same attention we might give a tummy ache, a broken leg, or a migraine. Minding our emotions and overall wellbeing is as important as taking care of our cardiovascular system.

In wobbly times like these, turning attention inward is important. We are learning to take care of our self — maybe with some of the same compassion we are quick to offer each other!

Check your local library, newspaper, and community services pages. There are sure to be many mental health week events happening near you.

MHW 2025 Theme

This year’s theme for MHW is “Unmasking Mental Health.” The CMHA describes it this way, “

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, and 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. In doing so, we can create a ripple effect of courage and understanding across the country.”

Taking the week to attend your own wellbeing

Sometimes when we talk about this aspect of our wellness we suggest that there are “pillars of wellbeing.” If we imagine our lives as a building or a structure, we might imagine that it is held up by pillars like physical, emotional, and mental health. We could add financial, spiritual, relational wellbeing to those pillars, too. In fact, add as many as you like! The idea is that we are complex and interconnected creatures. We are more than one thing. Mental Health Week can be a really good time to take stock: how are you doing right now? What is it like to be you?

Explore your community and get connected with the resources, creative supports, and life-enhancing events that may be available to you in taking care of You!

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