About Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba
Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba (MDAM) is a non-profit organization founded by Gwen Finnen in 1983 as the Society for Depression & Manic Depression of Manitoba. Today, MDAM operates throughout Manitoba, supporting those affected by mood disorders, their friends, families, caregivers and supporters.
Our Mission
Helping Ourselves, Helping Others. The Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba is a self-help organization dedicated to providing support, education and advocacy for those living with a mood disorder, co-occurring disorders or other mental health illnesses. We increase public awareness about mood disorders and empower people to develop hope and recovery. Help yourself or those you love in hope and recovery from mood disorders.
Our Vision
To build an understanding community in the awareness of mood disorders through providing support and recovery to those living with mood disorders. We strive to be a centre of excellence for grassroots community mental health in an open yet confidential atmospere.
Rita Chahal, Executive Director and Conference Chair
4 Fort Street Winnipeg, MB R3C 1C4
204-786-0987
www.mooddisordersmanitoba.ca
Rita Chahal is currently the Executive Director of the Mood Disorder Association of Manitoba and had a Canadian connection very early on. She was born in Maple leaf Hospital in Northern India and immigrated to Canada with her parents in the mid 60’s. They arrived at Peir 21 on the east coast and were one of the first family of color to settle in Prince Edward Island . Rita graduated from Dalhousie University with a Bachelor of Science and later moved with her husband to Winnipeg. She has lived and worked in Manitoba almost 40 years. Her career includes working in academia at the University of Manitoba, the corporate world and 25 years in the not for profit sector. Over the years Rita has held key leadership roles in not for profit including serving as Executive Director of The Women in Media Foundation, Employment Projects of Winnipeg and as Executive Director of Manitoba Interfaith Immigration Council where she provided provincial leadership for settling refugees during the Syrian refugee initiative. In 2017 she also played a key role providing services for refugee claimants arriving from the US. Rita served as the first ever General Manager and the first person of color to work with the Manitoba Chambers of Commence where one of her major projects was working with corporations to implement HR services to deal with the impact of domestic violence in the workplace. Her community work includes serving on numerous local, provincial and national boards and committees, primarily in the role of chair or executive member. Under the previous provincial government she was appointed to a crown corporation board. She has served on the United Way Poverty Council and is currently a member of the United Way speakers' bureau. In 2021, the Nellie McClung Foundation named Rita as a recipient of the Manitoba 150 Women Trailblazer Award. The award salutes the contributions that Manitoba women have made to social justice, arts, sports, politics, community activities and promoting democracy. Rita loves the arts, tries her hand at gardening, enjoys cooking for family gatherings and whenever possible travels. She has worked to instill in her 3 children the value of having a proud bicultural heritage. The love of her life are her 4 grand children! Rita is now working on writing her first book – “From Himalayas to Halifax and Beyond”.