FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OCT. 12, 2023 (Belleville) – Mood Disorders Society of Canada (MDSC) commends the Federal Government and the Province of British Columbia on their recent $1.2 billion bilateral agreement, aimed at significantly enhancing the nation’s healthcare system. The comprehensive scope of this agreement signals a pivotal move towards building a renewed system towards better healthcare outcomes for all Canadians.

As advocates for an inclusive mental health framework, we wish to highlight the lack of explicit acknowledgment and actionable support for grassroots community mental health organizations. These are the entities at the front lines, led or co-led by mental health leaders with direct lived experiences, uniquely equipped to comprehend and address mental illness challenges faced by Canadians.

Community-based organizations are instrumental within a healthcare system that is not just responsive but also proactive. Their deep-rooted connections in the community, proven and extensive programs and resources, paired with firsthand in-depth knowledge and insights, make them invaluable allies in building a stronger healthcare system which bridges the gap between formal medical interventions and everyday challenges faced by those affected by mental illness, and their families. They are pivotal in fostering understanding, eradicating stigmas, and providing supportive environments.

While nationwide initiatives and large-scale plans play a crucial role in re-shaping the overall health infrastructure, it’s often the local grassroots community-based organizations that ensure the reach of these programs to the most vulnerable sections of society. By solidifying direct support to these organizations and directly engaging with these groups, we can increase access to available supports, develop proven strategies and methods and expand resources.

Thus, while we express gratitude for the notable strides being taken at the federal and provincial levels, we urge policymakers and stakeholders to amplify their engagement with grassroots community mental health organizations. Incorporating their feedback, allocating resources, and co-creating actionable plans with them will ensure a truly holistic and effective healthcare system for all Canadians.

MDSC remains committed to partnering with governmental bodies and community-based organizations to make this vision a reality.

Mood Disorders Society of Canada is available for interviews upon request.

About Mood Disorders Society of Canada:

The Mood Disorders Society of Canada (MDSC) is a Lived Experience organization that emerged from the collective vision and efforts of numerous leaders in mental health from across Canada. Initiated in 1995, these individuals recognized the necessity for a broad-based structure to bring People With Lived Experience (PWLE) together, holding a shared belief in the significant role they could play in education and advocacy on a national scale. Over time, MDSC has developed into one of Canada’s most well-networked mental health Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO). It has established a notable track record in cultivating and preserving substantial, enduring partnerships across the public, private, and non-profit sectors throughout Canada.

Formally launched and incorporated in 2001, the MDSC’s overall objective is to provide 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.

For more information:
info@mdsc.ca
www.mdsc.ca
(613) 921-5565

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