Mental Health Week, May 4-10, 2026, highlights the critical need for social connection to combat loneliness and improve mental well-being, through tools, community activities and activities in schools and workplaces to spark connections. This year’s theme is “Come Together, Canada: Stronger connections, better mental health”.
A Mental Health Counselor in primary care is an integral member of the interprofessional team, supporting patients’ emotional and psychosocial well-being across the lifespan. They work with individuals experiencing a range of concerns—from emerging and situational challenges to chronic and complex mental health conditions. Grounded in a strengths-based, resilience-oriented approach, they partner with patients and their chosen family to assess needs, provide evidence-informed interventions, and build adaptive coping strategies.
Mental Health Counselors collaborate closely with primary care providers and broader health system partners to ensure care is coordinated, accessible, and responsive. By embedding mental health services within primary care, they help normalize conversations about mental health, reduce stigma, and improve timely access to supportive, person-centered care.
Thank you to our Mental Health Counselors for the essential role you play in fostering belonging and connection. Through integrated, team-based care, you help patients reconnect with themselves, others, and the systems around them, while building self-efficacy and adaptive coping skills. Your work directly combats loneliness and improves the lives of others and those around them. Thank you!
Free, public mental health groups and workshops for the community
The Hamilton Family Health Team offers many free, open-to-the-public groups and workshops that focus on or integrate mental health topics, including:
- ADHD in Adults Workshop Series
- Get a Better Sleep
- Healthy Aging Workshop Series
- Menopause Series
- Stress Management Workshop Series