(SARAH CHAI / PEXELS)
The Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba (MDAM) has launched a community fundraising challenge to help meet increased demand for mental health supports during the winter months.
The organization says prolonged cold, isolation and post-holiday stress are contributing to higher rates of depression, anxiety and bipolar symptoms across the province.
As part of its winter campaign, We’ve Got Your Back, MDAM is seeking 50 individual donations between February 9-13 through a community match challenge aimed at keeping peer-led services accessible province-wide.
Rather than relying on a single corporate matching donation, MDAM says the initiative is focused on community members supporting one another.
“Originally, we hoped to anchor this week with a single large corporate matching gift. When those plans shifted, we realized that the most authentic ‘match’ for our community is the community itself,” said Rita Chahal, executive director of MDAM.
Funds raised will support MDAM’s daily peer support phone lines, free virtual and in-person peer support groups in Winnipeg, Brandon and other Manitoba communities, as well as youth and senior programming.
Manitobans can participate by making a one-time donation or signing up for monthly giving through the organization’s website.
