CMHA Mental Health Week, May 4 - 10, 2026
Loneliness and social isolation are more than just feelings; they are serious phenomena that impact both individuals and communities. Social isolation is when a person has limited relationships or contact with others and has little to no social support.
Loneliness is the distress that comes from perceived isolation or unmet needs. Social isolation entails mental and physical health consequences.
Get Involved
We can make a difference in each other’s lives through simple actions that have a big impact. Coming together is a tangible and achievable action that we all can take.
We all have a role to play in making sure our community is mentally healthy.
Participate in Mental Health Week 2026 by joining one of our free virtual workshops. They are geared to everyone and delivered by mental health professionals.
Learn how you can support your own mental health, your workplaces’, and your community.
Send a Postcard
This Mental Health Week, we’re partnering with Toonie Stamps to create a limited-edition postcard series celebrating Toronto and the places where we come together – because connection starts where we gather. Each postcard represents one borough in Toronto where people come together.
You can get the postcard series by picking them up at our offices, becoming a monthly donor, or purchasing them here.
Each postcard series includes the six postcards displayed below.
Learn More About Loneliness and Connection
Connection at Work
Mental Health Week is an important moment to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and promote open conversations about mental health. It’s also a moment for workplaces to come together to create safe and supportive spaces for conversations about mental health and strengthen workplace culture.
Loneliness and Connection
Loneliness is more than a passing feeling – it’s a growing public health issue with real consequences for mental and physical health. In Canada, 13 percent of people aged 15 and older report feeling lonely “always” or “often.” Loneliness affects people across the lifespan, but some groups — including youth and seniors — experience it at much higher rates.
Come Together at School
Schools are powerful spaces for building connection, belonging, and mental well‑being. For children and youth, feeling connected at school is one of the strongest protective factors for mental health. When students feel seen, valued, and safe, they are more resilient, more engaged in learning, and more likely to seek help when they need it.
Come Together, Toronto
Social connection is woven into our daily routines. It can be as simple as sharing a meal, checking in with a friend, waving to a neighbour, or exchanging a few words with a stranger. These small moments of connection happen all around us — often without much thought — but they matter more than we often realize.If you or someone you know needs mental health support, there are programs and services available to help. See our programs here.
If you are in crisis, please call 211.
