PORTLAND, Maine —The 4th annual Yellow Tulip Project was held at Congress Square Park on Portland Saturday, aiming to change the way people talk about mental illness.
The founder of the event, Julia Hansen, brought the event to Portland after losing her two best friends to suicide. Now, the wellness event functions to bring the community together for live music, tulip planting, and support for anyone struggling with mental illness.
Other organizers say they hope the event sparks healthy conversations around the sensitive topic.
“We’re trying to take mental illness out of the shadows,” said Suzanne Fox, the executive director of the Yellow Tulip Project. “So many people suffer alone. So we’re coming together, getting our hands dirty and normalizing the conversation around mental illness.”