Unmasking Mental Health and the Power of Storytelling
- Cora Gathercole
- May 13
- 4 min read
In Canada, during the month of May, we raise awareness for Mental Health. The theme of Mental Health week in 2025 is Unmasking Mental Health. It’s a reminder for everyone to take a minute to explore our experiences with mental health and to challenge our own stereotypes and stigmas.
The act of masking is when we hide our emotions, our thoughts, and our authentic self. It is something that has been ingrained in us as humans and can be passed down through generations.
Masking is developed out of fear and survival, and to this day it is used as a coping strategy. Masking is sometimes necessary whether it is helping someone survive unsafe situations, helping to place boundaries when someone isn’t worthy of seeing behind the mask, or in social interactions. Those who struggle with mental health put the mask on in order to not feel judged, looked down upon, or in fear of losing either people or opportunities they need to support themselves. We hide behind the mask of “I’m fine”, “I don’t need support”, and “If something is wrong, I will reach out”. These masks allow us to feel protected so others can’t see the hurt, but the mask also allows the shame to build up and stay within. This creates a wall of loneliness that feeds the self-stigma we place on ourselves. In order for the stigma to be removed, we need to allow those covering up a safe place to take their mask off.
As a society, we rely on labels and carry implicit beliefs about mental health in conversations without taking into consideration that someone in the room may be wearing a mask. We throw out harsh words, without considering the impact they may have on someone and then question why someone never reached out for support when the mask is forced away. For us to create a safe environment we need to self-reflect on our own beliefs, improve the way we reach out to others, and develop a general awareness people may be struggling. We need to work together to look at each human as a whole person, with various parts of themselves and not just stopping at the mask they are wearing.
Strategies to Help With Unmasking Mental Health
Unmasking can be challenging for some because it can be emotionally and mentally exhausting. It can also go against everything they believe to be safe and true. In order for someone to begin to unmask they need to be with a safe person and safe environment, it also has to be their decision. There are some actions that can help you or encourage someone you know to unmask:
Look within yourself and find the reason you are placing the mask on
When you feel yourself putting the mask on or you see the person you are supporting placing that mask on, ask what was the trigger that made you feel unsafe or feel like you needed to hide yourself? From there, you can work towards exploring coping strategies to minimize or eliminate the trigger.
Know your boundaries
Know how to set boundaries and what boundaries you have in place. Understand that some people, situations and environments it isn’t safe to unmask. Allow yourself the grace that these coping strategies are important to keep you safe, but you are also allowed to learn new strategies.
Create and lean on a community
Reach out to your community and begin sharing your story. There is power in storytelling and having a voice. Find your voice with your safe people and practice being heard.
Ask twice
If someone says “I’m fine” and it doesn’t match the energy you are sensing from them, trust your gut and ask again. Show them your empathy and patience in asking twice.
Stand up against stigma
Fight against the stigma by challenging negative beliefs when you hear them expressed and engage in open conversations about mental health. Be the voice that demands to be heard.
The Power of Storytelling
"There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you."- Maya Angelou, poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist
The act of storytelling can be a powerful movement in any healing journey. Sharing your voice and the story you have walked can boost your resilience. Giving a story life allows you an opportunity to process the emotions along with the person that is holding space for your story. It gives the sense of being alive and no longer walking alone. When we tell our story as we remember it with the emotions we have attached to each memory, we discover what we have missed. Only then will you have the ingredients to put your healing pieces together. When we share our story to a single person, a large group or on a national level, we work toward ending stigma. We no longer allow our voice to be silenced because instead we are taking back the power of our voice. Sharing stories fosters empathy to yourself and others, it also forms connections within a community, which allows for the opportunity for a community to provide support.
Sharing your story with someone can allow you to see the story through another person's lens; it might allow you to walk away with a new perspective. It can highlight patterns in your thoughts and behaviors which will let you self-reflect without the isolation and shame. Having your voice heard can help you transform your story into resilience, strength and growth. Overall listening or telling a story allows for the individual sharing to feel heard, empowered and validated. Each story ends with freedom.
For all of these reasons, Bold Lotus commits to working towards creating a safe environment for you to support removing the mask and sharing your story!
