About Us
Mood Disorders Society of Canada (MDSC) has evolved to become one of Canada’s best-connected mental health Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) with a demonstrated track record for forging and maintaining meaningful and sustained partnerships with the public, private, voluntary, and non-profit sectors throughout Canada.
Vision
Mood Disorders Society of Canada has grown out of the vision and drive of a number of leaders with lived mental health experience from across Canada who in 1995 saw the need for a broad-based structure to bring Persons with Lived Experience (PWLE) together and who believed that PWLE have a key role to play with regard to education and advocacy at the national level. This vision continues today.
MDSC was formally launched and incorporated in 2001 with the overall objective of providing people with mood disorders with a strong, cohesive voice at the national level to improve access to treatment, inform research, and shape program development and government policies with the goal of improving the quality of life for people affected by mood disorders.
MDSC’s overall objective is to provide people with mood disorders with a strong, cohesive voice at the national level by:
- Raising awareness that mood disorders are treatable medical issues and working towards eliminating barriers to full community participation in reducing discrimination and stigma, involving members of the public, government and treatment/service providers.
- Building a national clearinghouse of information and resources related to mood disorders.
- Advocating for the creation of adequate and accessible stigma-free programs for Canadians living with or suffering from mental illness.
- Ensuring that the voices of PWLE and family members are accurately understood and communicated on issues of national importance by building on existing networks and alliances.
Mission
To improve the quality of life of Canadians impacted by mental illness so they can live the most fulfilling life possible.
