New mental health apps to help people cope

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , , ,

By Trevor Greenway

The Quebec government has launched a series of new mental health apps that enable residents to get immediate, real-time help for conditions like anxiety, depression, sleep disorders and substance abuse. 

And the majority of the apps are free and bilingual. 

The new Appmentalhealth.ca site features 19 mental health apps that have been carefully selected by teams of clinicians, mental health professionals and patient partners in Quebec. Healthcare professionals tested out more than 350,000 health applications and used a rigorous selection process to highlight 19 apps they tested to help those struggling with mental health conditions the most.

“Each app was evaluated using a detailed analysis grid with over 100 criteria for clinical effectiveness, data security, simplicity and accessibility,” reads the mental health app website. “Healthcare professionals and patient partners tested each app to refine the assessment and ensure the app was relevant. Out of thousands of available apps, only 19 made it through the full process.”

The apps are broken down into several categories, depending on what a user is experiencing. There are apps for stress and anxiety, mood and emotions, sleep, exercise and nutrition, confidence and relationships and substance use. Within each category are a series of apps to download, including Mindshift Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Rootd for panic attacks, I am Sober for substance abuse and Freeletics nutrition, among others. 

Experts looked at 350,000 health apps and filtered them down to 5,000 when looking at data security and privacy; accessibility and ease of use; and scientific validity. From there, patients and healthcare professionals tested the apps for “real-life usefulness, user experience and accessibility, and respect for diversity and ethical standards.”

A small portion of the apps are French-only, and some offer in-app purchases, but most are free to use and download. 

The app site was created by CIUSSS de l’Est-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, which was mandated by Quebec to increase access to mental healthcare and services through digital tools. 

The apps can be downloaded from the app store or via Appmentalhealth.ca. 

If you need help…

Mental Health Resources:

  • Suicide.ca – Bilingual
    •  Prevention line: 1-866-APPELLE (277-3553)
  • Canada Suicide Prevention Service – Bilingual
    •  24-Hour Crisis Line: call/text: 988
  • Info-santé – Bilingual
    • 24-Hour Crisis Line: 811, press option #2 to speak with a social worker
  • Distress Centre of Ottawa and Region – Bilingual
    •  24/7 Crisis Line: 613-238-3311
  • Tel-Aide Outaouais – French Only
    • 24 hour helpline:: 819-775-3223 or toll-free: at 1-800-567-9699
  • L’Apogée
    • Centre for family and friends of a person living with a mental health disorder: 819-771-6488
    • www.lapogee.ca
  • Aire ouverte
  • Maison le Ricochet
    • Rehabilitation and social and professional reintegration services to individuals dealing with mental health issues of varying intensity. The organization offers accommodation services, workshops, and work programs with support and supervision 24/7. 
    • Phone: 819-456-4230
    • Email: maisonlericochet@qc.aira.com. 
    • Website: www.maisonlericochet.com, 
    • 9 Ch. de la Beurrerie, Masham.

Grieving Resources: 

  • Entraide-Deuil-Outaouais: 819-770-4814 (French only)
  • Intersection (Deuil post-suicide): 819-568-4555 (French only)
  • Bereaved Families Ottawa: bfo-ottawa.org (English)
  • ROCSMO (Regroupement des organismes communautaires en santé mentale): santementaleoutaouais.ca
  • Maison Alonzo-Wright: www.maisonalonzowright.com/nos-services 
  • Écoute Agricole: www.ecouteagricole.com/en
  • Ami-Québec: amiquebec.org

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