The other evening, I saw a commercial for UNICEF saying that no parent should watch their child suffer and they are right but the parents of those with serious mental illness do that every day while they struggle to help their adult children in an environment that often disdains families.

When we think of Men's Health Week, we often think of prostate cancer or testicular cancer. As men account for three to four times the number of suicides of as women, one group is raising awareness of another important cause: men's mental health, depression and suicide.

While we spend the first week of May celebrating and raising awareness around Mental Health, we are failing to highlight our abysmal record on providing treatment and resources to those who suffer from serious mental illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, severe depression and other illnesses. And note, I said illness not health. There is a difference.

"I'm fine" seems to be the phrase of choice when someone asks how we're doing. We rarely take a moment to check in with ourselves and see if we are truly "fine." With Mental Health Week upon us in Canada, now is the perfect time to talk about all of the things we don't normally discuss. This week is a time to not only raise awareness about mental illness, but to also consider ways to improve our mental health.