Breaking Mental Health Stigma Across Generations

By Christian Cimino, Logistics Coordinator

Mental health has always existed in my family, but the way it has been understood and talked about has looked very different across generations. On my mother’s side, my grandmother and grandfather attended residential school. Their experiences shaped not only their own lives, but also the frameworks passed down around hardship, emotional expression, and resilience.

Mental health was not ignored, but it was often framed through endurance. Stress, grief, and emotional weight were acknowledged in practical ways through perseverance, responsibility, and the expectation to keep moving forward. There was strength in that mindset, especially given the systems my grandparents survived. However, it also meant that vulnerability, rest, and professional support were not always emphasized in the same way they are today.

Understanding this context has been important for me. Residential schools were designed to disrupt family bonds, identity, and emotional safety. For many survivors, focusing on survival and stability was necessary. Emotional struggles were often managed internally or within the family rather than discussed openly or externally. That approach carried forward, not out of neglect, but out of adaptation.

As a first generation university student, I have found myself navigating the space between those generational expectations and the realities of student life today. University introduces new pressures such as academic performance, financial stress, and uncertainty about the future. There is also a strong desire to succeed not only personally, but for those who came before you. That pressure can make it difficult to slow down or admit when things feel overwhelming.

Breaking mental health stigma for me has not meant rejecting my family’s values. It has meant expanding them. Resilience can still mean hard work and responsibility, but it can also include self awareness, asking for help, and using available supports. These ideas do not diminish past strength. They build on it.

Recognizing the historical and generational roots of how mental health is approached allows for more empathy, both for myself and for my family. Conversations evolve over time, and each generation plays a role in shaping them differently.

Organizations like the Queen’s Commerce Mental Health Association matter because they help normalize these conversations. By creating spaces where students can reflect, share, and learn, stigma is reduced and mental health is treated as something we all engage with, not something we hide.

Breaking stigma is not about rewriting history. It is about understanding it and choosing how we move forward.