MDSC Research
At MDSC, we passionately believe in advancing our understanding of the causes, impact, and treatments of mental illness, through rigorous research that is both relevant and outcomes-based. Our research priorities are driven by a deep commitment to addressing the pressing challenges to improve our collective mental health, ensuring that our findings lead to tangible benefits for those affected.
But our approach to research is distinct. We are firm advocates for the inclusion of persons with lived experience at every stage of research. Their voices, insights, and perspectives are not just a valuable addition; they are essential. We believe that true progress in mental health research can only be achieved when those with firsthand experience are actively engaged in the process. This unique collaboration ensures that our projects are not only scientifically robust but also deeply empathetic and relevant.
Join us in exploring our current projects, understanding our methodologies, and witnessing the transformative power of research that is as inclusive as it is innovative.
The research activities listed below are only a few examples of what we are currently up to. Want to partner or collaborate with us? Email us at info@MDSC.ca to learn more.
Current MDSC Activities
Access to Medications: How Public Drug Coverage is Failing Canadians with Mental Illness
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A better understanding of the barriers that exist within Canadian drug reimbursement processes for medications for mental illness is needed to identify why Canadians requiring these medications are falling through the cracks.
To identify those barriers, Mood Disorders Society of Canada (MDSC) commissioned a new report, System Broken: How Public Drug Coverage is Failing Canadians with Mental Illness / Système brisé : Dans quelle mesure la couverture publique des médicaments ne répond-elle pas aux besoins des Canadiens atteints de maladies mentales?, which reveals the stark reality that public access to the newest medications for mental illness is hampered by a complex system that takes too long and results in inequitable access – or in many cases, no access at all. |
MIRA - AI Advancements in Mental Health Care
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MIRAÂ is an intelligent, publicly available, and accessible mental health system navigation chatbot, developed by the Mood Disorders Society of Canada, in collaboration with the University of Alberta, Dalhousie University, the APEC Digital Hub for Mental Health, University of Saskatchewan, Western University, Ai4Society, Mental Health Research Canada, the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (amii), the International Indigenous Health Research and Training Centre (IIHRTC), Mitacs, and the Knowledge Institute on Child and Youth Mental Health and Addictions. MIRA is an anonymous, adaptive service, which uses machine learning to improve its services while protecting user privacy. |
The Insomnia Project
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We spend about one-third of our lives sleeping, yet for many, getting enough good-quality rest remains a daily struggle. Sleep is now widely recognized as a third pillar of health and wellness, standing alongside nutrition and physical activity as a cornerstone of overall well-being. Despite its importance, millions of Canadians are not getting the sleep they need. |
National Surveys
Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD) Survey
The primary objective of the Mood Disorder Society of Canada’s 2018 Treatment Resistant Depression Study was to identify priority issues and improvements or changes to the Canadian mental health care system that need to be addressed with relation to treatment resistant depression (TRD).
2022 Mental Health Care System Survey
The Mood Disorders Society of Canada’s primary objective in the 2022 Mental Health Care System Survey was to identify priority issues within the Canadian mental health care system that needs to be addressed. This national survey was conducted by Narrative Research, an independent firm.
MDSC Research Collaborations
CREST.BD – A Canadian Roadmap for Bipolar Disorder
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MDSC recently provided input on the CREST.BD and Daymark Foundation’s Canadian Roadmap for Bipolar Disorder – as they seek to create a new research and care agenda to improve the Quality of Life for Canadians living with Bipolar Disorder. |
The e-COSMOSÂ projectÂ
| The Sleep, Cognition, and Neuroimaging Laboratory (SCNLab) at Centre de Recherche de l’IUGM & Concordia University, in partnership with organizations including MDSC, is currently seeking participants for a study looking at online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for individuals experiencing insomnia. MDSC is supporting this work in an advisory role. |
Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for treatment-resistant depression: A randomized phase II clinical trial comparing one versus two psychedelic doses of psilocybin
Upcoming Projects
Lived Experience in Research
Stepping Up –Â Supporting Underserved Populations
Reaching Out – Support for Rural & Remote Communities
Better Pathways to Youth Mental Health Care
News & Reports
Psychological Health & Safety in the Workplace – Prevention, Promotion and Guidance to Staged Implementation
MDSC supports the Mental Health Commission of Canada's voluntary standard to provide systematic guidelines for Canadian employers that will enable them to develop and continuously improve psychologically safe and healthy work environments for their [...]
Building Bridges 2
About Building Bridges is a joint project of Mood Disorders Society of Canada and the Native Mental Health Association of Canada, which received funding support from the First Nations and Inuit Health [...]
Health Care Transformation: Change that Works. Care that Lasts
MDSC supports the Canadian Medical Association's call for each province and territory to implement a Patient Charter, within a national framework, to provide accountability to patients. MDSC was involved in stakeholder meetings assisting the [...]
