Some of the booths set up for the Mental Health Block Party in downtown Vernon (photo by Liam Verster / Vernon Matters)

By Liam Verster

Unmasking Mental Health

Mental health event draws crowd in downtown Vernon

May 8, 2025 | 2:09 PM

The annual Vernon and District Canadian Mental Health Association’s Block Party drew a crowd to the grassy area outside the Vernon Museum.

The event was held in the downtown core Thursday, May 8, to raise awareness of local service providers, who had booths set up to explain to people their programs. There was also live music and hamburgers for sale by donation.

The block party aligned with Mental Health Week, which had a theme of Unmasking Mental Health.”

Speaking to Vernon Matters, Jenn Millan, Family Support Co-ordinator for CMHA Vernon, said the term “mask” related to a sort of “armour” that people use to protect themselves from being exposed to stigma or judgement relating to their mental health struggles.

“Masking is a really big part of how stigma works for folks getting help and feeling like they can be safe enough to speak and tell their story, reach out and connect to what ends up sometimes being a perfect stranger in our industry when we have to feel that pressure, and sometimes desperation, to really reach out to a human. That can be a lot for people to overcome,” Millan said.

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“Putting the mask down, aside, and owning everything that’s going on with us isn’t easy for any of us. So unmasking mental health is something that CMHA completely promotes, all the time, and it’s really nice to and perfect timing to have it right now.

“We’ve been talking about masking a lot lately, publicly and in the media. It’s a common term with neuro-development and neuro-divergence, so it’s recognizable and I think it’s really a term for us to take notice of and realize we’re all wearing masks at different times.”

The event ran from 12 to 2 p.m. Thursday, and Millan said it was a good turnout, especially since it had been moved from Polson Park where it had been held in previous years.

“[The attendees are} very chatty, very happy to be out. I mean these [events], when they happen on a rainy day we still get people out because they want to come out and support the Block Party. It’s once a year, it’s something that we all like to just get out and be casual and be together and enjoy food together and some information. I’m finding that everybody’s really happy to be out,” Millan said.

“All of our organizations showed up today, which is great, and of course it’s a promotion, it’s meant to show people where to get resources.”

Also to mark the week, the Towne Theatre will screen the movie Bring It On at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, will all proceeds from ticket sales to support CMHA Vernon.