Registered as a charity earlier this year, The Kerry Gleeson Centre is holding a masquerade ball on World Mental Health Day on 10 October. The centre is a community and lived experience-led mental health charity. Kerry Gleeson has worked in mental health and suicide prevention for 15 years and founded the centre having recognised the need for more accessible and community-based support. Her work was acknowledged in a Community Recognition Statement by Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby in May.
The idea for a masquerade ball represents the ‘mask’ that people may wear to hide that they are struggling. The event symbolises the courage to remove those masks, emphasising acceptance without judgement, connection instead of isolation, and hope instead of despair. The night aims to honour the courage it takes to be seen and the compassion it takes to truly see others.
Ticket purchases will support the new charity to provide services including, but not limited to, early intervention support, after-hours care, advocacy for families and weekly community connection evenings.
Tickets can be purchased via the Humanitix website with the event to be held on 10 October at Miramare Gardens in Terrey Hills from 7pm.
