This Mental Health Week, we are invited to explore “unmasking mental health.”
It is extremely common among people who struggle with their mental health to put on a “mask,” which means that they hide what they are truly feeling. This is a way to cope, to behave how they think they are expected to behave and to protect themselves from the scrutiny of others. Masking often exacerbates the issues that people, who need support, feel.
We see this firsthand from youth at Covenant House Vancouver. We know that many of the young people who come through our doors have mental health concerns. Whether it be as a result of their insecure living situations or the issues that lead to their homelessness in the first place, they are often put into a position where they have to wrestle with these concerns alone.
In keeping with this year’s theme, it is important to “look beyond the surface and see the whole person.” Often, youth experiencing homelessness are not seen for their true selves. As a community, instead of focusing on the events, history, and actions that led to this status, we should focus on how we can support and lift up these resilient individuals. We hope that this Mental Health Week, people will take the time to consider youth who are struggling with mental health concerns and try to take the time to understand them. This week, we will be sharing stories, demonstrating how we help support youth mental health, and providing keen insights into this issue.