Mental Health Week 2026: How to Balance Self-Care and Your Education

May 4 to 10, 2026 is Mental Health Week in Canada. This year marks the 75th annual event led by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). The theme for 2026 is Come Together, Canada: Stronger connections, better mental health; an invitation to build belonging, reduce isolation, and support well-being through connection.

You Are Not Alone

Mental health challenges are more common than many people realize. One in five Canadians experiences a mental illness in any given year. And yet, more than 1 in 2 people struggling with their mental health aren't getting the help they need.

You are not alone, and reaching out is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Balancing everyday life and self-care can be genuinely hard, and that's especially true for students managing school, work, family, and everything else life brings. The pressures of academic life can quietly take a toll on your mental health, and the theme of this year's Mental Health Week is a timely reminder that connection, with others and with yourself, is one of the most powerful things you can prioritize.

Taking Care of Your Mental Health

Your mental health matters just as much as your physical health. And, just like with your physical health, building small, consistent habits can make a meaningful difference in how you feel day to day.
There's no single plan that works for everyone, but here are some strategies to consider as you build your own:

• Create a support network — identify the people in your life you can turn to when things feel heavy
• Try journaling — start with just a few minutes a day and reflect on the moments or feelings that stand out to you
• Prioritize what matters most to you — not everything deserves equal space in your schedule or your mind
• Set a routine — structure can reduce anxiety and help you feel more grounded
• Practice mindfulness or meditation — even five minutes a day can shift how you respond to stress
• Get organized — a clear space and a clear plan can ease the mental load of a busy student life
• Take care of yourself physically — sleep, nutrition, and movement have a direct and well-documented impact on mental well-being
• Set boundaries — with your time, your energy, and the people around you
• Ask for help — from your instructors, your support network, or a mental health professional

Crisis Support and Mental Health Resources

If you or someone you know is in crisis, help is available right now.

Call or text 9-8-8 to reach Canada's Suicide Crisis Helpline. 9-8-8 is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year, in English and French, and is free and confidential. Calls and texts are answered by trained responders across a network of nearly 40 crisis lines and helplines across the country. The service is led by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and funded by the Government of Canada.

Please note: If you are in Quebec, calling or texting 9-8-8 will redirect you to Quebec's provincial services, 1-866-APPELLE (277-3553) by phone or 53 53 53 by text.

Additional Resources

• Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA)
  • Click here for Mental Health Week resources
• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
• Kids Help Phone — call 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868, available 24/7 for children and young adults
• 211.ca — free, confidential service to find mental health and social services in your area, available 24/7 in more than 150 languages
• MyGrief.ca
• KidsGrief.ca
• YouthGrief.ca

For First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples

• Hope for Wellness Help Line — call 1-855-242-3310, available 24/7 for immediate, culturally competent emotional support and crisis intervention
• National Indian Residential School Crisis Line — crisis support is available to former Indian Residential School students and their families 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-866-925-4419 (toll-free)
• Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Crisis Line — support for individuals impacted by missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-844-413-6649 (toll-free)

Click here for more resources from the Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program.