ERIN – The Erin Rotary Club and various community organizations banded together to host the 2025 “Minds Matter” mental health initiative event at the Erin District High School May 13.
“You never know when it might be you or your friends or your family who are affected,” said Minds Matter head of development Claire Loftus.
The event featured eight community workshop stations as well as guest speaker Ahmad Jabbir, a motivational speaker who touches on topics such as empathy, habit building and “shooting your shot.”
Community workshops included a nature walk offered by Credit Valley Conservation, visits with animals offered by the Upper Credit Humane Society as well as a chance to visit with retired racehorses from Woodbine Racetrack.
“Our high school has students coming … from Shelburne, Orangeville, Hillsburgh and the surrounding villages,” said Loftus. “We had lots of agencies to support their mental health.”
Mental health supports at the event included the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), East Wellington Family Health team and more.
Each student was given a QR code to take home and scan that offered all of the information and resources from the day, a detail Loftus said is crucial so students can “access all the information post-event when they need it.”
Loftus told the Advertiser next year’s event will look a little different as organizers are hoping to include parents in the activities.
“It needs to be a two-pronged thing where it’s for students but it’s also giving the parents information as well,” said Loftus.
For a full list of community organizations involved or to learn more about Minds Matter, visit erinrotary.com/minds–matter.
