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A mental health and wellness expo at the Aud in Simcoe on Saturday \u2014 put on by South Coast Wellness Addictions and Mental Health in collaboration with the Canadian Mental Health Association of Brant-Haldimand-Norfolk \u2014 featured more than 38 booths with information and services available in Norfolk County.<\/p>\n
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\u201cNowadays, I don\u2019t know if there is an individual who wouldn\u2019t know someone \u2014 a family member, friend or neighbour \u2014 who is struggling with mental health or addictions-related concerns,\u201d said Aaron Deketelaere, a South Coast addictions facilitator. \u201cIt\u2019s an opportunity for people to learn more about resources or learn more about how they can be supportive to those people.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Southcoast CEO\u00a0Lynn Wardell\u00a0said Saturday\u2019s event was the first mental health expo in the area for quite some time, and she was pleased with the attendance.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt wraps up mental health week, and we\u2019ve been working in partnership with CMHA Brant-Haldimand-Norfolk to ensure that we had events here in Haldimand and Norfolk dounties,\u201d Wardell noted. \u201cI think it highlights mental health and wellness. It\u2019s important to learn coping strategies and self-care so that we can take care of ourselves and our mental health.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe vendors here are all promoting strategies,\u00a0ways, and\u00a0techniques\u00a0that you can use. Anything we can do to promote awareness and fight the stigma is\u00a0really great.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Some independent vendors offered information on how to explore creating and crafting as\u00a0part of wellness.<\/p>\n
William Hartsgrove of Taoist Tai Chi Simcoe said practising tai chi improves strength, flexibility, relaxation and mindfulness.<\/p>\n
![\"Tai](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0512-sr-mh-expo-2-web.br_.jpg\")
William Hartsgrove (left) of Simcoe leads fellow Taoist Tai Chi members through an exercise at the Mental Health and Wellness Expo on Saturday, May 9 at The Aud in Simcoe. Brian Thompson\/Brantford Expositor\/Postmedia Network Photo by Brian Thompson \/Brian Thompson\/The Expositor<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0a very\u00a0gentle exercise that we do that almost\u00a0anybody\u00a0can do,\u201d he explained.\u00a0\u201cThis style is more of an internal healing style.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hartsgrove said classes are offered twice each week at 25 Peel St\/, along with an evening class at the Army-Navy-Airforce Club.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe philosophy is that we are there to help everyone out,\u201d he said.\u00a0\u201cWhen you are in class doing at least one hour\u00a0\u2014\u00a0concentrating on what\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0doing\u00a0\u2014\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0not worrying\u00a0about the problems you have.\u00a0If you can take that out into your life, you can talk yourself into calming down\u00a0(in stressful situations).<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u00a0benefits\u00a0your own psychological well-being.\u201d<\/p>\n
Haldimand-Norfolk MP Leslyn Lewis said that mental health is health care, and no one should have to suffer with mental health conditions alone.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis expo\u00a0demonstrates\u00a0that there are a\u00a0number\u00a0of organizations, volunteers,\u00a0and\u00a0community members that are willing to join in to ensure that\u00a0people have the\u00a0supports\u00a0they need to navigate through their mental health crises and situations,\u201d\u00a0Lewis observed.<\/p>\n
bethompson@postmedia.com<\/p>\n
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