The Abbotsford-Matsqui Rotary Club holds its annual Wine and Beer Festival on Saturday, May 27 to raise funds for youth experiencing mental-health issues.
The event runs from 7 to 10 p.m. at Sevenoaks Shopping Centre.
David Bayne, clinical co-ordinator for the early psychosis prevention (EPI) program with Fraser Health, was thankful when he found out that the Rotary Club was going to donate to the program at Abbotsford Regional Hospital (ARH).
“Mental health is usually one of the programs that receives the least amount of donations,” said Liz Harris, executive director of the Fraser Valley Health Care Foundation (FVHCF).
The EPI program serves individuals ages 13 to 30 – and their families – who have emerging psychotic disorders.
The purpose of EPI is to increase understanding, decrease stigma, and provide direct and sustained clinical treatment during the early years of illness.
It also bridges child and youth mental health services and adult mental health services, as well as linking services between hospital and community.
The Abbotsford-Matsqui Rotary Club has been raising funds for youth mental health programs since 2015.
“Our club wants to raise awareness around mental health issues as a means to help reduce the stigma,” said club president Mike Welte.
Tickets for the Beer and Wine Festival are available at Sevenoaks customer service, Collections with Class, the FVHCF office at ARH, or online at abbotsfordmatsquirotary.com.
More information on the EPI program is available at earlypsychosis.ca.
To donate directory to the program, visit fvhcf.ca, email info@fvhcf.ca or call 877-661-0314.