Pathway to Benefits:

National Launch Coming Soon

We’re pleased to announce that the Pathway to Benefits project will be launching soon! MDSC, through the Pathways to Benefits project, will provide one-on-one navigational support services for Canadians to access the new Canada Disability Benefit, the Disability Tax Credit, and other federal, provincial, and territorial programs.

This project builds on the momentum and impact of our previous work supporting marginalized and underserved populations, including Indigenous, racialized, 2SLGBTQI+, low-income, and rural communities. Our success in advancing equity-focused approaches has been acknowledged as a testament to the trust and credibility we’ve built with both community members and systems-level stakeholders.

Pathway to Benefits will collaborate with our national network of partners — including community organizations, Indigenous-led agencies, researchers, advocates, and service providers — all united by a shared commitment to making benefits navigation more accessible, inclusive, and person-centered.

Through this initiative, we aim to develop tools, resources, and outreach strategies that support individuals when applying for disability supports like the Canadian Disability Benefit, the Disability Tax Credit, and other federal, provincial, and territorial programs. The project will also include culturally informed engagement strategies, data-informed evaluation, and the development of sustainable referral pathways.

Supporting Veterans and their Family Members

We are proud to offer no-cost programs for Veterans and their Family Members.

With financial support from The Royal Canadian Legion (Dominion), Veterans Affairs Canada and The Ontario Government (Seniors Community Grant Program), we currently offer 6 unique and complimentary services and supports for Veterans and their Family Members, as follows:

• Level 1 – Foundational Peer Support Workshop (facilitated by MDSC’s Peer and Trauma Support Services (PATSS) team) delivered remotely through zoom)

• Level 2 – Applied Peer Support Workshop (facilitated by PATSS team), delivered remotely through zoom)

• Veteran Volunteer Hub – opportunities that provide volunteer giveback to the Veteran community

• Companionship Calls – sign up to receive a social call from another Veteran!

• Mental Health Seminars – we will be offering three nation-wide mental health webinars (including knowledge and educational tools) to assist Veterans and Family Members with mental health literacy, and coping mechanisms.

• First Step online Webinar Series –with Michael Landsberg. The ‘First Step’ program uses a real approach, by real people, taking on the real issues of mental illness and how to take the first step to recovery. This is program is delivered through a series of self learning modules and is extremely pertinent to the Veteran community – here is an introduction to it:

Making Medications Accessible for Those in Need

MDSC is dedicated to ensuring that all Canadians can access the medications they need to support their mental health.

Working toward this goal, MDSC held its first multi-stakeholder working group (WG) meeting on June 2, 2025 to help drive action on our “Strategies to Address Gaps in Assessment of Drug Therapies for Mental Illness” recommendations. There are 15 members in the WG including PWLE, physicians, a psychiatric nurse practitioner, a psychiatric psychopharmacologist, a health ministry representative, reimbursement decision-makers from the private and public areas, industry supporters, health technology assessment representatives, as well as another health advocacy organization. At the meeting the WG discussed our output around creating guidance on “clinically meaningful endpoints” that matter most to PWLE.

MIRA Update: Enhancing Mental Health Support Across Canada

MIRA was originally developed using a rules-based AI which uses targeted conversation flows to direct users to mental health resources. Earlier in the year, the team recognized that this type of AI would not be suitable based on current AI trends. Since the launch of LLM-based AIs like ChatGPT, users have come to expect an enhanced conversational capability when using AI.

MIRA 5.0 is a complete rework of the MIRA system, which moves away from a simple rule-based system with NLP (natural language processing) assisted retrieval, to one that is fully LLM-guided, augmented with NLP and other machine learning techniques.

The change allows MIRA to draw from a much broader selection of resources from the resource portal by using a more advanced retrieval algorithm and by understanding a far broader variety of conversations from users requesting information.

Additionally, the LLM allows for a more natural dialogue with users while adhering to both personable and empathetic responses.

The Power of Partnership

The MIRA Project would not be possible without incredible partners/funders and collaborators. We have been fortunate to work with some amazing people and organizations. The best people have stepped up to make a difference, from our Senior Executive team, our private and public sector funders, to our Expert Advisory Team and our amazing volunteers; none of this would be possible without them.

Connex Ontario Joins the MIRA Team

We are delighted to share that we have welcomed our latest partner. ConnexOntario is a confidential phone, chat, texting and email service that helps people in Ontario who need support and information about mental health, gambling and addiction services available in their community. Their team of trained professionals listen with compassion, shares information about the mental health and addictions system, and recommends local programs and services to meet your needs. Please visit https://connexontario.ca/ for more information.

If you or your organization are interested is being part of the MIRA team please contact us today!

The Insomnia Project

Insomnia, characterized by difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep and impaired daytime functioning, remains widely misunderstood. Like many other mental health conditions, patients often struggle to access the care and treatments they need. Stigma around insomnia persists, despite its significant ripple effects on individuals and society at large.

MDSC’s Insomnia Project aims to tackle these critical challenges through a multidimensional approach:

· Microsite: A one-stop shop for information about insomnia and sleep. MDSC is currently developing the first beta version and aims to launch the site by early September.

· Workplace Program: By offering presentations and creating tailored content, MDSC seeks to equip both employers and employees with the tools they need to address insomnia. Pilot programs are expected to roll out later this year.

· Media Campaign: A national media initiative, launching in the fall, focused on amplifying the voices of people with lived experience (PWLE) and healthcare professionals (HCPs), highlighting the day-to-day realities and real-life impact of insomnia on Canadians.

If you’re interested in sharing your experience with insomnia as part of this national campaign, please reach out to us at info@mdsc.ca.

MDSC Partner Spotlight:

Migraine Canada

Migraine and Mental Health –

A Bi-Directional Relationship

Migraine affects up to 15% of Canadians, with 1–2% living with chronic migraine (15+ headache days per month). Beyond intense head pain, symptoms include:

· Nausea and vomiting

· Sensitivity to light, sound, and smell

· Visual disturbances (auras)

· Dizziness

· Cognitive impairment or “brain fog”

· Fatigue

Mental Health and Migraine: A Complex Relationship

Is migraine causing depression, or is mental health triggering migraine attacks? Often, it’s both. Research shows that individuals with migraine are significantly more likely to experience mental health challenges. These co-occurring conditions compound the overall burden and complexity of living with migraine.

Migraine Canada’s™ 2021 national quality-of-life survey of 1,100+ respondents highlighted the co-existence of the conditions:

· 93% of participants with chronic migraine, and 80% with episodic migraine felt it contributed to symptoms of depression and/or anxiety.

· 52% with chronic migraine reported moderate to severe depression or anxiety, requiring counselling and/or medication to manage.

Taking a Multi-Pronged Approach

Because this cycle can be tough to break, addressing mental and emotional wellbeing is essential. Effective treatment requires a comprehensive approach that can include:

· Medications (preventive and acute migraine therapies, antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications)

· Psychological support (i.e. counselling, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT))

· Lifestyle modifications (sleep hygiene, stress management, diet, regular movement)

· Tracking tools, like the Canadian Migraine Tracker app, to monitor patterns, triggers, and treatment effectiveness

Support from Migraine Canada™

Migraine Canada™ is a federally registered charity dedicated to supporting the 5 million Canadians living with migraine and other headache disorders. Through education and support, Migraine Canada™ empowers people to better understand and manage their condition(s).

Check out their evidence-based resources on:

· Migraine treatments and prevention

· Monthly webinars and virtual support groups

· Mental health supports and management

· Workplace and school accommodations

· Practical tools like the Migraine Tracker app (available for free)

Conclusion

The migraine-mental health connection requires a multi-faceted approach of medical treatment, lifestyle changes, and emotional support to find pathways to relief and resilience.