Mental Health Awareness Month

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

In a bold move to tackle rising concerns over excessive screen time, thousands of Quebec families put down their phones, tablets, and remote controls recently for the annual 24-hour Family Break Challenge.

The initiative, organized during Mental Health Awareness Month, encouraged families to take a complete break from screens, TVs, computers, and mobile devices for a full day.

The challenge, now in its second year, was spearheaded by Carolanne Campeau, advisor on screen use risk prevention at Capsana. The initiative is supported by government funding aimed at raising awareness about the impact of screen time on mental health. Last year, 25,000 families participated, and organizers say this year’s numbers matched or even exceeded that tally.

Participants were provided with a comprehensive list of activity ideas to help fill the screen-free hours, rediscovering board games, outdoor adventures, and simple conversations. For many, the list was a gateway to forgotten pleasures, from family walks and picnics to reading, crafting, and playing backyard sports. “We want families to break the automatic reflex to reach for a device,” Campeau told The Suburban. “It’s about bringing intentionality back to how we use our screens.”

Many parents admitted the first few hours were tough. “It was hardest at the beginning,” one participant shared in a post-challenge survey. “But we found we had more time than we realized, suddenly, we were baking together, playing cards, and really talking.” Some families even reported the experience prompted deeper conversations and laughter that had been missing from their routines. Others said it gave their children a chance to discover hobbies that had taken a back seat to television and video games.

The initiative wrapped up with a survey asking families to report their usual screen habits. The results were striking, 85 percent of parents said they struggle to manage their children’s screen time, 86 percent found it difficult to put devices aside, and 90 percent expressed a strong desire to cut back. Most notably, 82 percent believed screen use negatively affects family life. Parents described the constant pull of notifications and the daily battles over when to put down the phone or turn off the TV. Some said they were surprised by just how much of their day revolved around screens, even for simple things like checking the weather or reading the news.

Organizers point out that screen time has become a public health concern, especially given the growing body of research linking excessive device use with anxiety, sleep issues, and social isolation in children and teens. Experts warn that unchecked screen use can lead to disrupted sleep patterns, lower academic performance, and strained family relationships. The Family Break Challenge aims to offer a practical, community-led solution to these growing problems, starting with a single day of disconnecting.

To motivate participation, a $5,000 Club Piscine gift certificate was offered as a prize. But for many families, the real reward was rediscovering the fun and connection that comes without a glowing screen. Parents reported that children were more engaged, siblings played together, and even household chores felt less burdensome when everyone pitched in.

“We hope this challenge will help families rethink their habits long after the 24 hours are up,” Campeau said. In the meantime, many families are already looking forward to making screen-free time a regular tradition. n