Who We Are
Elephant in the Room (EITR) is a national anti-stigma campaign and initiative of Mood Disorders Society of Canada (MDSC). Established in 2006, EITR was created to challenge the stigma surrounding mental illness and promote awareness, respect, inclusion, understanding, and recovery.
Campaign Symbol: The Blue Elephant
The small blue elephant lives in workplaces, homes, vehicles, community spaces, events, and other environments. It signals a welcoming, stigma-free space where mental health is valued, respected, and supported. It also serves as a reminder that together, we can acknowledge the “elephant in the room” and take action to create more inclusive communities.
Our Evolution: From Awareness to Action
Today, EITR has evolved beyond awareness and into a national movement that empowers individuals, workplaces, schools, communities, leaders, and organizations. And we do it by outlining the meaningful steps they can take to reduce stigma and advance mental health accessibility.
Inspiring Change
This campaign encourages action through education, advocacy, partnerships, policy influence, and evidence-informed resources. Our goal is to foster psychologically safe and inclusive environments, support stigma-free policies and leadership, amplify lived experience, challenge discrimination and harmful stereotypes, and promote recovery-oriented, person-centered approaches to mental health.
We are the herd.
Join us in the fight to end mental illness stigma. Learn more about our Wellness Trunk initiative, become an ambassador, or donate to the cause. Together, we can form a circle of support and help those in need.