The Canadian Mental Health Association’s (CMHA) Vernon branch is hosting its annual Community Block Party in honor of Mental Health Week, which runs from May 1-7, 2023. This year’s theme, “My Story,” highlights the power of storytelling to foster understanding and create connections within communities. The block party, taking place at the Polson Park Bandshell on May 4, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., aims to bring the community together to rally around the cause.
The event will feature live music by 6 Shades of Grey, a barbecue cooking up burgers by donation, and a chance to enter to win tickets to Comedy for a Cause at Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre. The block party is a way to raise awareness about mental health and promote positive behaviors and attitudes that support good mental health.
According to CMHA Vernon, Mental Health Week is a social change campaign designed to educate the public and shift beliefs and perceptions about mental health. It helps create a culture of understanding and acceptance, and promote behaviors and attitudes that foster wellbeing.
CMHA emphasizes that mental health is something that affects all people, regardless of whether they have a mental illness or not. While we don’t all share the same experiences, we do share a similar array of emotions, fears, and hopes. These emotions create a connection between the listener, the characters, and the storyteller. The sense of community that storytelling creates is more vital today than ever before.
To learn more about Mental Health Week, visit www.mentalhealthweek.ca, and to learn about CMHA Vernon’s programs and services, visit www.cmhavernon.ca.