This is the 60th anniversary of Canadian Mental Health Awareness Week.
The event is on from now until May 7th, and the local CMHA chapter in Owen Sound has a number of fundraising initiatives planned.
The week kicked off on Monday with a breakfast at the downtown Owen Sound office, where Meaford mom Maggie Holmes shared her experiences from climbing Mount Everest.
CMHA Youth Program Coordinator Jackie Ralph says this year’s theme is “Mental Health For All.”
She says the goal is to help people understand that everyone deserves to have mental health support and treatment if they need it.
Locally, Ralph says a number of events are planned to help raise funds for CMHA programs.
The big event is “Dine Around Town” next week — where you can buy a ticket for 75 dollars that gets you a four course meal at four downtown Owen Sound restaurants.
There is also a consumer conference this Wednesday, and the Kid’s Help Phone Walk was held on Sunday.
Ralph adds CMHA volunteers will be selling sunflower seeds around town to further raise funds for programs.
She says in the 60 years Mental Health Awareness Week has been held, awareness and acceptance of mental health issues has grown exponentially.
