Every day in our community, people walk into work, school, and family dinners wearing invisible masks. They smile. They nod. They say, “I’m fine.”
But behind that mask, they may be struggling with something much heavier than we realize.
Maybe it’s anxiety so loud it drowns out everything else. Maybe it’s depression that makes getting out of bed feel like climbing a mountain. Maybe it’s substance use—
a coping mechanism for pain no one else sees.
No one should have to hide what they’re going through just to feel accepted. And everyone deserves a space where they can show up exactly as they are—no shame, no judgment, no pressure to pretend.
That’s what this year’s theme is all about. #UnmaskingMentalHealth. It’s about letting people be seen, heard, and understood.
It’s about recognizing that the roles we play—parent, coworker, friend, student—don’t always reflect the inner realities we carry. And that being “functional” isn’t the same as being okay.
For Naomi, this journey started in 2017, when she first came to CMHA. She was new to Saskatoon and nervous—not just about the city, but about walking into a mental health organization. She didn’t have a diagnosis yet. She didn’t know what she needed.
But she knew one thing: she wanted a space where she didn’t have to explain herself or pretend to be okay.
“CMHA was a cornerstone to building a life that I wanted.”
Naomi started coming to programs. She joined Life Skills, found support in housing, advocacy, peer connection, and group support. And slowly, her mask began to come off.
Naomi began volunteering—first at a Member of Parliament’s office, then at CMHA events. She was certified in Safe Talk, wrote articles, joined support groups, and even shared her story publicly to help others unmask too.
“At CMHA, you’re not pushed to be someone you’re not. Agendas don’t make people better. Connection does.”
Healing isn’t always loud or dramatic. Sometimes, it’s a quiet moment of feeling safe in your skin. A conversation where you don’t have to fake being okay. A place where your truth is enough.
Because here’s the truth: masking mental illness can feel like survival. But over time, it isolates people. It wears them down.
The longer someone hides their pain, the harder it becomes to ask for help. The mask that once felt protective can start to suffocate.
Unmasking takes courage—but it also takes community. And that’s where you come in.
You are part of this community. When you give, you help someone feel seen—not as a label, but as a whole person relearning themselves through their mental illness.
Naomi spent four years in transitional housing before moving into an apartment of her own. She’s lived there now for three years. That’s not just stability—it’s dignity. It’s hope.
And it’s a reminder that when people feel supported, they don’t just survive. They rebuild. They thrive.
And it’s because of donors like you.
Your donation today will help Naomi and others like her get the support, housing, and connection they deserve.
You help us keep the doors open. You help us say “yes” to someone in urgent need. You help people unmask in their own time, in their own way—and know they’ll be met with compassion, not judgment.