About the Mood Disorders Association of Ontario

MDAO is celebrating its twentieth year of supporting people affected by mood disorders. This year, we will help over 15,000 people across Ontario. We are a non-profit, self-help organization working with members, volunteers, other mental health groups and mental health professionals.

We are proud to be a leader in creating an open, responsive, inclusive community where individuals and families can find help and compassion and can ” talk to someone who’s been there.”

Our Vision

That people affected by mood disorders will be treated with care, compassion, respect and equity. MDAO will:

• Be a recognized and trusted leader in education, research, information and support.
• Be supported by the community.
• Provide inclusive, equitable access within an effective and comprehensive health system.

Our Mission

To enhance the quality of life for all affected by mood disorders through support, information, education and advocacy.

Our Programs

We believe that peer support is paramount. Through public education and outreach to everyone in the community, plus our advocacy work, we want everyone to know and accept that a mood disorder or mental illness is no different than any other illness. Like heart disease or diabetes, mood disorders are conditions to be managed and not feared.

MDAO is proud to offer a wide range of programs that support the one in five individuals that will experience a mood disorder in their lifetime. To list just a few:

• More than 65 peer support groups available at no cost to participants in Toronto and across the province.
• Telephone information and support with trained volunteers through toll-free calling.
• Our Sisters’ Place, the first program of its kind in North America , providing support to women with Mood disorders linked to life’s reproductive benchmarks.
• Flowers of Friendship, a program that delivers flowers to mood disorder inpatients at Sunnybrook and Women’s Health Sciences Centre, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and St. Michael’s Hospital.
• Stand Up for Mental Health, a 12-week standup comedy course, an innovative workshop where people with mood disorders develop their comedic talent and blossom.
• Moving Lives Forward scholarship program offers financial assistance to help people acquire the education and vocational skills necessary to secure jobs and regain their lives.
• Distinguished Speakers Series.
• Web based resources and news at www.mdao.ca.
• Equilink Newsletter, published quarterly.
• Paul Horner Memorial Resource Library plus a host of public education materials.

All of these programs and resources are available free of charge to anyone in the community – locally, across the province, and across Canada.