People
Unmasking Mental Health
Lacey sits down to chat, looking every inch her namesake, wearing black lace stockings and a beautiful blue, lace-covered dress that matches her blue eyes. She has a shy smile that belies the nervousness she feels, which is understandable: unmasking your mental health journey can be vulnerable.
The Canadian Mental Health Association’s theme for Mental Health Week 2025 is Unmasking Mental Health. Living with mental health challenges often forces people to hind behind a “mask” to protect themselves from judgement and discrimination. Mental Health Week is an opportunity to be honest and vulnerable, giving others an opportunity to look beyond the surface to see the whole person, creating awareness and understanding.
Lacey has lived with mental health challenges since childhood. Anxiety developed early on in school. In her youth, her beloved grandfather passed away, a loss that affected her deeply. As she got older, Lacey tried to find ways to mask the anxiety she was feeling, at times turning to drugs. Addiction sometimes led to homelessness. Lacey is a trusting person, always looking for the good in others, but sometimes people would take advantage of her kindness. Being diagnosed with borderline personality disorder was both a blessing and a curse: it opened doors to support but was also hard to accept.
But Lacey is turning her life around. Today, she’s living in the Fraser Valley in a home facilitated by Communitas Supportive Care Society. Here, Lacey lives in her own 2-bedroom suite in a home that also gives her access to 24-hour mental health support.
“The staff here are really nice, super supportive,” Lacey says. “They talk to me if I need it.”
Christina Stevens manages the home where Lacey lives. She says Lacey has improved immensely since she’s come to the home. She cites a recent difficult experience.
“Lacey recently went through a very hard time and in the past, she would have turned to drugs – but not this time,” Christina says. “Even when she hit rock bottom, she allowed staff to support her.”
Lacey’s parents, Peter and Peri, have also seen how Lacey has grown since she’s come to Communitas. They love their daughter and have done everything in their power to support her but at times it was difficult. They credit Lacey’s strength of character and the support of Communitas staff for the positive shift they’ve seen in her.
“Communitas has been a God-send,” Peri says. “I can actually go to sleep at night and not worry.”
Parents also face stigma when their children struggle with mental health challenges. Others assume that parents are the cause of their children’s struggles or they haven’t done enough as parents to prevent them. Peter and Peri have found support through different mental health support groups where other parents with similar stories understand and encourage each other. Both Peter and Peri offer encouragement to other parents like themselves.
“To other parents, I’d say never give up, because your child is still your child,” Peri says. “It can be hard but there is hope out there, you’re not alone.”
Peter reminds us that mental illness is an illness like any other.
“People don’t choose this – just like people don’t choose cancer or diabetes,” he says. “Even addiction. It’s an escape from something that people feel they can’t cope with.”
Lacey is grateful for the support of her parents, knowing that it has often been difficult for them. She feels positive about her future. She is a creative soul who loves music and dancing. Lacey would also like to find a creative career.
“I’d like to go back to school and do something like hair dressing or make-up artistry,” she says.
To others who might be struggling with their mental health, Lacey offers encouragement as well.
“No matter what, things can get better,” she says. “Always look on the bright side and try to look for the good in others.”
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