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Come Together, Canada – Mental Health Week 2026

Published On: May 6, 2026

The Canadian Mental Health Association Mental Health Week happens annually in May. For 2026, the theme is “Come Together, Canada – Stronger Connections. Better Mental Health”. Kevin Kristjanson, part of CSCM’s Sport Psychology team, has written this blog to expand on the theme with some additional insights for athletes. 

Come Together, Canada – Stronger Connections. Better Mental Health.

This year from May 4-10, Canadian Mental Health Association Mental Health Week invites all Canadians to strengthen the social connections that are essential to overall health and well-being. 

Forming social connections helps reduce the feelings of loneliness and isolation that are often associated with increased risk of: 

  • Depressive symptoms
  • Self-harm and suicide
  • Inflammation
  • High blood pressure
  • Heart disease
  • Stroke
  • Accelerated aging

A recent review of the relationship between social support and mental health among athletes revealed that athletes who felt more social support had higher overall well-being, less anxiety, less depression, and less stress (Luo et al., 2025). While support from teammates is important, athletes who also maintain relationships with family and friends outside of sport benefit even more. 

Quantity vs. Quality of Relationships 

Having a larger social network is helpful for feeling connected as it increases the likelihood of having the types of quality relationships that protect against feelings of loneliness. People tend to be more satisfied with their close relationships when they include: 

  • Responsiveness 
  • Caring
  • Understanding and validation 
  • Empathy 
  • Reciprocity 
  • Vulnerability and trust 
  • Good communication 

If you are looking to build relationships that include these qualities, you may want to try: 

  • Planning some one-on-one time. It can be nice to spend time with large groups of people, but it sometimes lacks the intimacy of having someone’s undivided attention 
  • Expanding the scope of your relationship. Go out for lunch with your co-workers or host your teammates for a board game night. Let people know that your relationship isn’t only based on proximity and convenience. 
  • Sharing not just your successes, but also your struggles, with people. When you tell someone about your challenges and ask them for help, you’re communicating that you trust and feel safe with them. 
  • Inviting people to join you in the mundane. Running errands, doing administrative tasks like bookkeeping, or grocery shopping and meal prepping together offer chances to add a bit of joy into tasks that might otherwise be boring or unpleasant. 
  • Using training as a chance to connect. Even if you are training on your own, and especially if you are away from home, sending a photo or a quick note to let people know what you are up to or how your training went that day helps them to feel included in your life. 

CSCM has additional Sport Psychology resources available on our website. CSCM athletes – If you would like to connect with a mental health professional, please contact Kylo to inquire about adding additional support to your CSCM team.

Reference:
Luo, J., Du, R., Wang, X., & Luo, L. (2025). The relationship between social support and mental health in athletes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 16, 1642886.