Every year during the first week of May in Canada, Mental Health Week is celebrated and continues to be led by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). This year, Mental Health Week is from May 4th to May 10th, and the theme is “Come Together, Canada” with a focus on connection.
All forms of connection have been shown to contribute to our sense of belonging, reduce isolation and support our well-being. When we connect with ourselves and with each other, we can truly strengthen our mental health.
To honour and celebrate Mental Health Week this year, the Waterloo Region Suicide Prevention Council (WRSPC) will be sharing our own campaign on Moments that Matter across our social media platforms. This campaign speaks to those moments we might not think about how it may be contributing positively to our mental health. We will also be sharing supportive and encouraging information including connection types, how to have a conversation, and tips on how to support specific individuals or groups in moments of need for support.
Resources
For detailed information on the importance of social connection, fact sheets, toolkits, and a connection quiz, visit CMHA Mental Health Week: https://cmha.ca/mental-health-week/
For further resources on social connection, visit our previous Resource Round Up blog post on Social Connection: https://wrspc.ca/july-resource-round-up-social-connection/
To learn how to share your story in a healthy and safe way in moments of vulnerability, visit this newer resource from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP): https://storytelling.afsp.org/campaigns
To learn more about or to receive self help and/or peer support, visit CMHA: https://cmhaww.ca/services/self-help-peer-support/