Let's Pass The Hat for Mental Health

In honour of the struggles you or a loved one has faced, please join the conversation, then pass the hat.

From May 6th to 10th, we’ll be posting mental health awareness information on social media and encouraging others to do the same.

There will be hats. Not just our branded purple caps, but every day, any style hats. The people wearing the hats will be engaging in real and much-needed conversations about mental health care, in an effort to raise awareness.

You can be one of these hat-wearing, story-sharing people too!

(Keep scrolling to learn why and how to participate.)

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

Did you know...

Nearly one in five youth aged 15 to 17 report that their mental health was "fair" or "poor" in 2019?

(Source: Canadian Health Survey on Children & Youth, 2019)

Poorer mental health among children is associated with lower grades and difficulty making friends.

(Source: Canadian Health Survey on Children & Youth, 2019)

By age 25, approximately 20% of young Canadians will have developed a mental illness?

(Source: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health)

Anxiety is one of the most common mental health concerns for children and adults, affecting upwards of 20% of children and adolescents over the lifespan?

(Source: Anxiety Canada)

How can you participate?

You can join in by following these 3 simple steps:

Step 1: Wear a hat during Mental Health Week from May 6th to 10th and post your selfie and a brief message on Instagram. Post once, or every day!

Step 2: Be sure to use #PassTheHat2024 and then tag a friend to do the same!

Step 3: Donate to Hats On For Awareness

We’d love for folks to challenge themselves to share something heartfelt. What you share is 100% your call – your authenticity is valuable!

DONATE NOW

Pass The Hat So No One is Left Behind

When you support Hats On For Awareness, you help ensure that our frontline resources are accessible so that more youth in of our communities DO have somewhere to turn in a mental health crisis.

Our annual Pass the Hat campaign is inspired by the idea of community standing together, taking turns wearing the hat to tell our stories and then urging others to do the same. Wearing the hat is a symbol of protecting your head and your mind. It’s something simple that we can each do to lend our voice and help break barriers to mental health care access.

We would love for you to take your turn wearing the hat, to take the lead on furthering the conversation. Whether you’re sharing gratitude or a personal anecdote, or calling out a loved one who you appreciate, your participation will help shed a light on resources and care for people who need it.

Check out our blog for more ideas on what to share, and be sure to send us your email address to receive more mental health facts and prompts!

Learn more about the Campaign

DONATE TO PASS THE HAT