Resources

GRACE – The first parental control app that doesn’t sacrifice your child’s privacy. The most secure and feature-rich parental control app for iPhone and iPad https://grace-app.com/

BARK– Parental control phone tracker that helps parents see warning signs of anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts that may be embedded in their child’s online text. https://www.bark.us/

PRODUCTIVE – an APP to help organize your day. This App helps in creating time trackers to prevent or recover from screen time addiction. http://productiveapp.io/

Nature Passport App – this is an international app designed to get kids and families playing, exploring, and learning outdoors. https://www.naturepassport.org/

Bright Future Solutions –  https://academy.brightfuturessolutions.com/cpc-sign-up  – A complete online system to Guide students in accessing their true potential, discovering their perfect career direction & setting themselves up for success.

F & A (Friends & Advocates) – https://fapeel.org/ – “offers support to those who have experienced Mental/Emotional Distress resulting in Social Isolation.  We provide members with opportunities to develop strong Communication, Interpersonal and Leadership Skills. We offer opportunities for members to develop their Leadership, Interpersonal and Social Skills through over 40 activities per month and training programs”. Available in Peel Region, and a great resource for those looking for tangible social experiences following compulsive gaming isolation.

Bounce Back Ontario a free skill-building program managed by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). It is designed to help adults and youth 15+ manage low mood, mild to moderate depression and anxiety, stress or worry. Delivered over the phone with a coach and through online videos, you will get access to tools that will support you on your path to mental wellness.   https://bouncebackontario.ca/

www.lifeskills4college.com/communication-smackdown
A course to help improve communication skills for Post Secondary

For students wishing to take a Gap year there is a program called Discover Year, where students are shown how to actively work, and then get a high school graduation entry level job, work 30 hours a week from September until the end of January. They learn how to be an exceptional employee and build on responsibility and communication through weekly group meetings. They then must travel to a place that will be educational for 4-6 weeks, and then return to their job until the end of the school year. They must also be involved in some kind of community project to learn the emotional benefits of giving back. They are provided with mentors and learn skills development, leadership, team work, collaboration, initiative, giving and receiving feedback, and organizational skills. This is a one year program that helps a young person learn how to navigate their world beyond high school and helps them make better decisions about their future whether it is to go on to post secondary education or to continue to work. Their website is www.discoveryear.com

Mental Health First Aid – a two day course that helps one to recognize in another person common symptoms of mental health disorders, learn the tools to assess for risk of suicide and/or self harm, listen without judgment,  how to give reassurance and information, encourage professional help, and encourage self-help and other supports to someone in need.  This is especially helpful for parents during the teen years when one is trying to decipher whether sudden behaviour changes are hormonal or a sign of a mental health disorder.

To find a course offered near you, go to http://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.ca/en

Game Aware Online Program – a 6 week online program, with video tutorials and 10 strategies to help gamers learn “intelligent gaming”, monitoring healthier time spent in video gaming, and creating more time to pursue other activities, chores, and goals. http://www.gameaware.com.au/gameaware-families-6-week-program/

Reset Summer Camp

https://www.resetsummercamp.com/2020camperapp – “Reset Summer Camp offers a fully immersive, clinical program hosted on a university campus, providing a fun-filled experiential summer camp atmosphere. Participants are able to detox from their screen addiction and learn how to self-regulate, as they participate in individual and group therapy.

Our focus will also be on the development of Life Skills and our program will cultivate responsibility and builds self-confidence, so campers will be prepared to handle their real-world obligations. 

Our staff includes experienced youth-development professionals, as well as medical professionals and a certified clinical staff team  who will work on a daily basis with those suffering from problematic use of technology, including but not limited to gaming addiction and other unhealthy screen-time habits. 

Bartimaeus Inc. –  One-to-one support for children and adolescents who are exhibiting unusual behaviours and/or are experiencing mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and eating disorder, among others. Services are offered in the family home, hospital, at school, university/college campus, or anywhere in the community, and often during transitions in a child’s or an adolescent’s life.  http://www.bartimaeus.com/

Kids Help Phone  – Free Professional Counselling available online or by phone, anonymous and confidential
KidsHelpPhone.ca          1 – 800 – 668 – 6868  | Text: TALK to 686868 (English) or TEXTO to 686868 (French)

www.paarc.com – In Peel, PAARC provides a variety of Treatment Services for those with a Gaming Addiction.  The phone number is (905) 629-1007 You can press extension 222 to reach a Clinical Intake Worker directly.

http://pineriverinstitute.com/  – residential treatment center with outdoor leadership experience for youth 13-19 struggling with addictive behaviours and often other mental health issues.

Tangerine Walk-in Clinic is a free counselling service for children, youth, and family who live in the Peel Region. There are 3 locations. http://www.tangerinewalkin.com/

Sierra Acres Equine Therapy
We develop customized programs for both those with addictions and family. Programs are provided for individuals or groups. Sierra Acres is committed to providing high standards of professional excellence in how horses and humans work together to improve the quality of life and mental health. Contact Anne Porteous (905) 876-5423. Confidentiality is respected and maintained. –  www.sierracres.ca

Homewood Community Addiction Services (CADS)  www.homewood.org 519-836-5733 x 2396

Problem Gambling/Technology Overuse Services, Assessment, Treatment and Referral services for individuals and family members. Problem gambling and technology overuse (i.e. gaming) can interfere with quality of life. These issues can affect family, finances, relationships, physical and mental health, school, work, leisure time and spiritual well-being. Whether you are an individual with problematic behaviour or a concerned family member seeking support, we’re here to help.

Community Addiction Services (CADS) provides assessment, outpatient treatment, and referrals to community resources for people coping with problem gambling and technology overuse. We will work with you to develop a service plan that meets your unique goals and will support you by focusing on your strengths, building your resiliency, and promoting your well-being.

We offer a variety of programs and services based on best practice and aimed at successful goal achievement.

www.eMentalHealth.ca – a website designed to help you find Mental Health Services, Help, and Support in your area. It provides anonymous, confidential and trustworthy information, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. eMentalHealth.ca is a non-profit initiative of the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) dedicated to improving the mental health of children, youth and families.

The Edge Gaming Addiction Center in Thailand.   https://www.theedgerehab.com/gaming-addiction-treatment/ – This is a 1 – 3 month holistic program in the beautiful Thailand to help those who suffer with Video Gaming Disorder. It has been created in collaboration with the founder of GameQuitters.com, Cam Adair, who has helped thousands of people overcome gaming addiction.

COAST Crisis Outreach & Support (for Halton Region) https://www.connexontario.ca/Directory/Program/18134 Their mission is “to enable individuals in crisis who have a serious mental illness, to remain safely within their own environment, by providing a range of accessible services that include outreach assessments, support and interventions to prevent further crisis.” This may be a helpful support resource for families when gaming is being removed and the gamer becomes aggressive, violent, or suicidal.

Hotel-Dieu Grace Health Care
Outpatient Digital Dependency Treatment, Windsor, ON – https://www.hdgh.org/vgnetdependency

 https://screentimelabs.com/ – an App to control your child’s screen time on their phone and tablet

 https://freedom.to/ – an App and website blocker to help control distractions and focus on what matters

https://www.toptenreviews.com/software/privacy/best-parental-software/ – software list for parents to help control a child’s internet use, some include tracking, limits, and blocks for screen time and video gaming.