Teenzone concert Saturday to benefit youth mental health on P.E.I.

A fundraiser Saturday night, May 13, called Ashes to Flames is being held to raise funds for mental health programs for young people.

It's at the Alley in the Murphy Community Centre from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., and is being put on by the Charlottetown Teenzone, supported by the Canadian Mental Health Association.

It features three bands and a silent auction.

"The Charlottetown Teenzone is a drop-in centre for youth in Charlottetown, between the ages of 12-18," Kaitlin McManus, an employee, told Mainstreet P.E.I.'s Angela Walker. "It's a safe space. So if there's any youth that are in need, they need somebody to talk to, to help with homework, finding a job, or just want somewhere to go and hang out, they can come and they can hang out with us."

'A need for more mental health support'

McManus said the numbers have grown at the centre, from around five regulars at times in the past to about 15 currently, and a lot more for theirevents.

There's a need for more mental health support, she said. "We have a lot of youth who sometimes struggle with their mental health. It's something that not only I have noticed, but my staff as well have noticed.

"It's a little lacking sometimes, the supports for mental health for youth, and there's a lot of stigma around it. So we wanted to raise awareness about youth mental health on Prince Edward Island and also help fund some of the programs."

Some of the issues include anxiety, depression, bullying on a day-to-day basis, as well as cyber-bullying, she said.

The bands Little Cities, Lost Haven and The Royal North have donated their time for the benefit and several Island businesses have donated items to the auction.

'Everybody has somebody'

"Everybody has somebody who has struggled with their mental health," said McManus. "It's really personal for a lot of people."

A portion of the money raised will go the the Charlottetown Teenzone for their programs, and the rest to the Canadian Mental Health Association, P.E.I. division, for their programs for youth 14-18. McManus hopes it becomes an annual event.

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