Mental Health Awareness Week — Healing Isn’t Just Personal—It’s Collective

I have a love/hate relationship with Mental Health Awareness Week.

Hang in with me here.

I love Mental Health Awareness Week because it reminds me of the courage and vulnerability it takes to seek help. Asking for help is hard—whether it’s for depression, anxiety, relationship conflict, or anything in between.

When I was 16, my parents began going to therapy. It started with my dad speaking up about his depression and anxiety, and that honesty allowed him to receive help. Soon after, my mom began counselling as well. Through it, she was able to heal parts of her religious trauma. Beginning counselling was a big step for our family, but it changed our health and well-being for the better.

I remember going to my first therapy session, terrified of vulnerability. I was so afraid that I never actually saw my therapist’s face. My first sessions were over-the-phone Telehealth appointments—it was the only way I could take the brave step of admitting how overwhelmed I was by anxiety and burnout. Over time, I gained the courage to be vulnerable with someone sitting across from me, truly listening and caring. Counselling has profoundly improved the quality and safety of my relationship with myself and with others.

I’m grateful for Mental Health Awareness Week because it helps us feel less alone when we need support. I only wish there had been less stigma around mental health when I began therapy—and I wish the same for all my clients.

And still, I hate Mental Health Awareness Week.

We live in a broken system that does not facilitate the kind of healing and support we need for our mental health.

In the Western world, mental health professionals are mainly trained to individualize mental health. This creates a narrative that places the responsibility solely on the individual: “You are the only solution to your mental health.”

This Western view weaves its way into Mental Health Awareness Week: “Share your story,” “You reach out,” “Therapy is the answer.” And while I love therapy and believe it is powerful and transformative, I also know it is not the only solution.

What we know about mental health—beyond the individual—is that social and environmental factors play a HUGE role. These include financial stability, access to healthcare, safety in relationships, social privilege, and oppression. There are many others, but all significantly impact mental health and well-being.

I believe you are not the only solution to your mental health.

Radical community care, accessible resources, and systemic support are mental health care. Change in family systems, workplaces, and broader social and political systems is mental health care. We don’t just need more awareness—we need change in systems that fail to promote mental well-being.

You need safe and supportive communities to reduce financial stress, systemic oppression, and barriers to healthcare. Awareness is not enough. Advocacy for change is essential.

So how do we move forward? How do we hold both truths at once?

Mental health awareness is important—because stigma still exists. And the reasons many people suffer with mental health are deeply rooted in systemic issues beyond their control.

My hope for you this Mental Health Awareness Week is that you’ll join me in holding space for both awareness and advocacy. Notice how taking action for your mental health is powerful—and how that action isn’t always simple. Notice how your experience is shaped by forces beyond your control—and consider how you might advocate for change in the spaces and communities you’re part of.

At Verity Therapy, we prioritize both you as an individual and the systems you live in. If you’re looking for individual support or want to build more supportive community around you, we’d love to connect. We have a team of Registered Clinical Counsellors (RCC), Somatic Breathwork practitioners, and Life Coaches. And if finances are a barrier, we offer low-cost counselling with our highly skilled counselling interns.

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