Wellness Day Flyer, promoting the event at F.E. Madill Secondary School in Wingham on Saturday, May 5th, 2018. (Courtesy of Shannon Mercer, Mental Health Matters and candicereich.ca)Wellness Day Flyer, promoting the event at F.E. Madill Secondary School in Wingham on Saturday, May 5th, 2018. (Courtesy of Shannon Mercer, Mental Health Matters and candicereich.ca)
Midwestern

Mental Health Matters Hosting Wellness Day On Saturday

F.E. Madill Secondary School will play host to a very unique mental health event this Saturday in Wingham.

Wellness Day will include a number of mental and physical health activities, and Shannon Mercer of Mental Health Matters says there's a specific goal in mind with the event for people who attend.

"The reason that we're doing this is we would like to connect people in the community with organizations, that are mental health organizations but also with people who are health care practitioners. We feel that health is both mental and physical health together, they're just as important as the other."

The event runs from 1pm-5pm on Saturday afternoon at F.E. Madill, and will feature an appearance from mental health advocate Kendra Fisher at 3:30pm. It's $10 admission, with all proceeds going to Alexandra Marine and General Hospital in Goderich, which is the only hospital in Huron County with an inpatient mental health facility. Mercer says it's becoming more common to think of mental and physical health as a package deal.

"If you have poor mental health, you will probably suffer physically, and if you have poor physical health, you're probably also suffering mentally. So if we can sort of provide people with the opportunity to connect with individuals who can help them be well, and provide a holistic approach to wellness, then that will be a fabulous day for us."

Mercer says it's also huge to have more prominent people, including high-level athletes like Kendra Fisher, coming forward and telling their stories about struggles with mental health.

Wellness Day Flyer, promoting the event at F.E. Madill Secondary School in Wingham on Saturday, May 5th, 2018. (Courtesy of Shannon Mercer, Mental Health Matters and candicereich.ca)

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