Mood Disorders Society of Canada (MDSC) is a national lived experience mental health charitable organization committed to ensuring that people impacted by mood disorders enjoy the fullest lives possible, within a healthy, stigma-free environment. We have a long history of collaborative partnerships with various levels of government and mental health organizations across the country.

As we continue to grapple with increasing demands for mental health services across the country, MDSC believes in collaborating with and empowering those working at the community level. That is why we will be hosting a series of roundtables with community-based mental health organizations this summer to learn about their work and current challenges, as well as create a platform for the exchange of ideas and best practices.

To date, we have hosted a series of preliminary roundtables, gathering insight into the work of these organizations and some of the challenges they face in their goal of delivering quality services to their communities. We hope to expand on these findings to help inform our advocacy at the federal level. That is why we are calling on community-based mental health organizations of all sizes to connect with us and join in on our national project.

Download the Community Mental Health Network Preliminary Report

Key Findings from Preliminary Roundtable Report

  1. Community organizations are strong innovators when it comes to developing new programs and services
  2. Community organizations struggle to secure core, operational and sustained funding
  3. Community organizations face structural difficulties when recruiting and retaining talent
  4. Improved coordination and referrals between community organizations and primary care providers strengthen mental health care strategies and improve accessibility
  5. Improved communication and coordination between community organizations would strengthen available programs and services
  6. Closer working relationships between health care providers and community organizations would lessen primary care demands, lower wait times, and increase access to ongoing crucial support resources

Participate in our Upcoming Roundtables

MDSC invites Community Organizations from across Canada to participate in roundtables throughout the summer. Sign up now to ensure your region’s needs are included in the final report.

MDSC gratefully acknowledges the patient organization grant from Janssen Inc. in support of this project.