🗓 May 6–12, 2025 is Mental Health Awareness Week
It’s an important time where we can talk about things we might not always feel comfortable talking about. This year’s theme, “Unmasking Mental Health,” is especially powerful — because so many of us feel like we have to wear a mask when it comes to how we’re really doing.
Living with a mental health challenge or substance use is already hard enough. But when we feel pressured to hide it — to smile through the pain, to say “I’m fine” when we’re not — it becomes even harder. The heavier the stigma, the heavier the mask. And the more we carry that weight alone, the more isolated we feel.
“We all wear masks, and the time comes when we cannot remove them without removing some of our own skin.”
— André Berthiaume
The Truth Behind the Mask
Mental health affects how we think, feel, and act.
It influences how we handle stress, relate to others, and make everyday choices.
And just like physical health, our mental health needs regular care, attention, and support.
But stigma still lingers. Many people feel the need to hide their mental health challenges, worried about being judged or misunderstood. That’s why so many wear a “mask” — to appear okay on the outside, even when they’re struggling on the inside.
The mask might protect us in the short term. But over time, it can deepen feelings of loneliness, exhaustion, and disconnect — especially when stress piles on top.
The Pressure to Seem Okay
I know this because I’ve hidden behind a mask many times.
Since I was 14, I’ve struggled with depression, anxiety, OCD, and disordered eating. I never felt like I could talk about it with anyone — even though my struggles with ED made it impossible to ignore.
I remember telling my aunt I’d do anything, anything, to be normal.
The less I talked about what I was going through, the more alone I felt. I began to think that no one would understand me — my experiences, my heartbreak, my sadness. I withdrew more and more. The mask of “I’m fine” became indistinguishable from who I really was.
Eventually, my psychiatrist diagnosed me as “Presents Well” — which meant that even though I was unwell, I was functioning so highly on the outside that I appeared okay.
I had become diagnosably fine — despite being anything but.
It was years before I was able to start taking steps to unmask. I was lucky to have a few friends over the years that gave me the space to be honest, a no-judgement zone where I shared my struggles.
I found that the more I shared, the more I realized we all hide parts of ourselves, and that in sharing I could really connect with others, I felt less shame about my struggles, and my mental health improved.
Unmasking Stress: The Hidden Partner of Mental Health
At some point, we all wear masks.
A smile during heartbreak.
A joke to cover anxiety.
An “everything’s great!” when everything isn’t.
And one of the most common masks we wear?
The one that hides our stress.
Stress doesn’t always show up as a meltdown or a visible crisis.
Sometimes it looks like being extra busy, saying yes to everything, or pushing through when your body is begging for rest.
It’s the “high-functioning” mask — the one that hides how close we are to burnout.
The connection between stress and mental health runs deep.
Stress can trigger mental health challenges, worsen existing ones, or disguise them entirely.
We might think we’re “just stressed” — when we’re actually dealing with something much deeper: anxiety, depression, overwhelm, exhaustion.
The truth is, our bodies do keep score.
When stress builds up, it doesn’t just live in our thoughts — it impacts our brain, our mood, and our entire nervous system. Over time, it can wear us down, making it harder to focus, harder to sleep, harder to feel like ourselves.
What starts as “just stress” can quietly lay the groundwork for anxiety, depression, and burnout if we don’t give ourselves space to recover.
Yet we often minimize it:
“I just need to get through this week.”
“Everyone’s stressed — it’s normal.”
“I should be able to handle this.”
But chronic stress isn’t something to brush off — it’s something to listen to.
It’s a signal. And when we ignore that signal too long, it gets louder…
in the form of burnout, sleep problems, brain fog, or even physical illness.
This Week, Try Something Brave
Let’s check in with ourselves.
Let’s get honest.
Let’s start unmasking.
✨ What signs of stress are you ignoring or hiding?
✨ How might your stress be affecting your mental health?
✨ And what would it feel like to take off that mask — even just a little — and say, “I need support”?
What helps me unmask?
A practice I use — whether in my mind or in my journal — is to check in with myself. I ask: How are you really doing? I’m often surprised by the answer. If things aren’t great, even just texting a trusted friend, “I’m not actually okay today,” can make a huge difference.
Unmasking mental health starts with honesty.
With compassion.
With letting ourselves be human.
Let’s stop pretending we have it all together.
Let’s normalize the conversation around stress.
And let’s remind each other that reaching out is never a burden — it’s a beginning.
💭 Ask Yourself:
“What am I really feeling behind the mask I wear each day?”
⚠️ Signs You Might Be Wearing a Mask:
- You feel exhausted by social interactions — even when you’re smiling.
- You say “yes” when you really want to say “no.”
- You suppress emotions or avoid discussing how you’re really feeling.
- You feel a constant pressure to “have it all together.”
🩷 Acknowledging the mask is the first step toward taking it off — gently, safely, and with support.
🤝 How We Can Support Each Other
Start open conversations.
Ask someone how they really are — and take time to truly listen.
Check in regularly.
Mental health fluctuates. A simple “I’m here for you” can mean more than you think.
Respect privacy.
Not everyone will be ready to share. Give them space and show quiet support.
Normalize seeking help.
Therapy, peer support, mindfulness — these are signs of strength, not weakness.
💚 Let’s Use This Week to Take Off the Mask — Together
Let’s choose compassion over perfection.
Presence over pressure.
Connection over silent struggle.
🔍 Resources: Where to Reach When You’re Ready
🌍 Crisis Support (Worldwide Access):
- Find A Helpline — A global directory of crisis lines by country
👉 findahelpline.com - Befrienders Worldwide — Emotional support in 30+ countries
👉 befrienders.org
📱 Mental Health Apps (Available Internationally):
- Headspace — Guided meditation and mindfulness for stress and sleep
- Woebot — CBT-based AI chatbot that checks in on your mood
- Calm Harm — Evidence-based strategies to manage self-harm urges
- Daylio — A private mood and habit tracker to help identify emotional patterns
- Insight Timer — Huge library of free meditations, music, and talks
🤝 Online Communities & Self-Help Tools:
- 7 Cups — Free emotional support from trained volunteer listeners
👉 7cups.com - Mental Health America — Self-screening tools, resources & worksheets
👉 mhanational.org - Mindful.org — Mindfulness tips and practices for everyday mental wellness
👉 mindful.org
✨ Remember: Reaching out isn’t weakness — it’s courage in action.
Even one small step — a message, a breath, a click — can lead to connection, calm and healing. The first step is often the hardest, but you don’t have to take it alone.
Ditch Stress 
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