When you take a moment to think about it, we’re naturally pretty good at putting on different “masks” throughout the day depending on where we are or who we’re with. It’s not necessarily a bad thing — it’s part of being human. We might show up one way with our staff or coworkers, another way with our partner or kids, and yet another with the person handing us our double-double through the Tim Hortons drive-thru.
But sometimes, we fall into the habit of masking something deeper — our feelings.
This week is Mental Health Week in Canada, and this year’s theme is “Unmasking Mental Health.” It falls within Mental Health Awareness Month, offering a timely reminder that mental health is something we all have — and that pretending everything’s fine when it isn’t can come at a cost.
In the farming community, we don’t always make much space for that kind of honesty. Farming has long been built on grit, resilience, and the idea that when things get tough, you just keep going. The trouble is, that mindset can make it incredibly hard to admit when you’re struggling — let alone to ask for help.
Whether it’s mounting debt, unpredictable weather, or long hours alone in the cab of a tractor, many farmers carry stress quietly. You might push through your day while feeling anxious, irritable, or exhausted. You might chalk it up to the season or to stress, telling yourself you’ll deal with it later. But if “later” never comes, that quiet struggle can turn into something much harder to manage.
That’s why this year’s Mental Health Week theme hits close to home. Unmasking mental health doesn’t mean spilling your guts to everyone you meet or walking away from your responsibilities. What it does mean is finding safe, real moments to drop the mask — even just a little. It could mean telling a neighbour you’re not doing great when they ask how you’re holding up. It might mean being honest with your partner about how little you’ve been sleeping. Or maybe it’s just taking a few minutes to check in with yourself and acknowledge that things feel off — and that it’s okay to feel that way.
You don’t have to be falling apart to talk about mental health. In fact, checking in when you’re somewhere in the middle — not thriving, but not quite in crisis either — can be one of the best things you can do for your long-term wellbeing. It can be a chance to course-correct before things spiral.
There are more supports available now than ever for farmers. Whether it’s our local Farm Family Support Line (1-833-754-3692), available 24/7 to our farmers, their families, and their employees, or just someone who’ll listen without judgment, help is out there. And while asking for help can feel uncomfortable at first, it’s often the first step toward feeling more like yourself again — not the version that’s masked up for everyone else’s comfort, but the one that’s real, tired, strong, and human.
So, this Mental Health Week, take a moment to unmask — even just a little. You never know who you might be helping, including yourself.
#WeTalkWeGrow
