A tea party with a focus on mental health will be taking place in Maple Ridge.
Everyone is invited to wear their maddest hats to the 8th annual Mad Hatters Tea Party which will be held in Memorial Peace Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 31.
Or create their very own hat at the event hat table.
The event was started in 2017 by Catherine Larnon-Trout who wanted to bring attention to the struggles of mentally ill people.
Larnon-Trout founded the Mad Hatters Foundation after trying to find housing for her own son who was diagnosed with a mental illness. She was unable to find anything suitable for him and had to purchase a house on her own.
One in four people are diagnosed with a mental illness and the tea party is meant break through the stigma associated with having a mental health condition.
Larnon-Trout believes a lot of people are misinformed about mental illnesses from unreliable sources. She wants to see governments put more money towards mental health and more resources.
Free tea and scones will be available at the tea party along with music and entertainment.
At 11:30 a.m. there will be a parade of hats, where people can show off their creations. There will be prizes for the best hats.
Most importantly, though, Larnon-Trout wants to keep the conversation flowing about mental health.
For more information call 604-308-1949 or go to: facebook.com/madhattersfoundation.
