(Trigger Warning: This article mentions suicide)

The Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce Women’s Success Network (WSN) is inviting the community to take part in a hands-on effort to promote mental health awareness by helping plant a Hope Garden in Uxbridge.

The event will take place on Saturday, September 26, beginning at 9 a.m. on the Uxbridge Town Common, located at 20 North Main St. Volunteers will work together to plant 500 yellow tulip bulbs as part of a partnership with The Yellow Tulip Project, a nonprofit organization focused on ending the stigma surrounding mental illness and encouraging conversations about mental health.

Community members of all ages are all welcome to participate. The Hope Garden is designed to serve as a visible reminder that support is available for those facing mental health challenges and that no one has to struggle alone. The yellow tulip, which represents happiness and hope, was chosen as the organization’s symbol and reflects its mission to encourage conversations about mental health while reminding people that brighter days are possible.

The Yellow Tulip Project’s mission is to “smash the stigma” associated with mental illness while building stronger, more connected communities. Through Hope Gardens, workshops, educational programs, and more, the organization encourages open conversations about mental health and reminds people that there is always hope and help available.

The organization was founded by Julia Hansen after her own experiences with depression during middle school and high school. Hansen has shared that she often felt isolated because of the stigma surrounding mental illness, making it difficult to ask for help.

At the age of 15, Hansen lost two of her closest friends to suicide. The tragedy motivated her to speak openly about mental health and inspired her to create change for other young people who may be experiencing similar struggles.

Together with her mother, Suzanne Fox, Hansen founded The Yellow Tulip Project to create opportunities for young people to challenge misconceptions about mental illness, build supportive communities, and encourage honest conversations about mental health. Since its founding, the organization has expanded its reach through community events, educational initiatives, and Hope Gardens planted in cities and towns across the country.

The upcoming Uxbridge planting is one of those efforts, bringing together local residents, volunteers, and organizations to create a permanent symbol of hope in the heart of the community. While the bulbs will bloom in the spring, the message behind the garden extends well beyond the flowers themselves.

This fantastic event will encourage people to connect with one another while supporting an important cause. By planting the bulbs together, participants will help create a space that serves as a reminder that conversations about mental health matter and that seeking help is a sign of strength.

Organizers encourage anyone interested to attend, whether they have personal experience with mental health challenges, want to support a loved one, or simply wish to be part of a community project with a meaningful purpose. Just remember those gardening tools and gloves!

Those attending are asked to arrive at the Uxbridge Town Common by 9 a.m. on September 26 to help plant the 500 yellow tulip bulbs. When the flowers bloom next spring, they will stand as a lasting reminder of hope, community, and the ongoing effort to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness.

For more information on the Yellow Tulip Project, please visit https://theyellowtulipproject.org// 

Photo: Courtesy of https://theyellowtulipproject.org/