The members of Maltby Centre’s Youth Advisory Committee want to help you help yourself with some suggested tips, links, apps and resources you may want to try. Everything in this section are just suggestions and not endorsements by Maltby Centre. Talk to us at Maltby Centre or a trusted adult if you want some further advice. We’re here to help.
Mental Health Tips
Staying active can help improve your mental health
Take time to breathe, decompress, slow down, meditate or whatever works for you to calm yourself when feeling overwhelmed
Remember that quality sleep is important for your mental health
Talk to your trusted adult when you need to
Speak about your emotions, don’t bottle them up
Be happy for this moment as it will never come again
Embrace your weirdness
Phone Lines & Sites
Talk Suicide Canada
1.833.456.4566
Youtube videos
The 5-4-3-2-1 Method: A Grounding Exercise to Manage Anxiety
Mindfulness: Youth Voices
Teen stress from a teen perspective
Suicide Prevention
Books
(Some of these titles are available as books or audiobooks which are free to borrow from your library).
Atomic Habits by James Clear
101 essays that will change the way you think by Brianna Wiest
Don’t Call Me Crazy by Kelly Jensen.
What I Like About Me by Jenna Guillaume.
Apps
Here are some suggested mental health related apps you may want to try. Like everything else in this section, these are just suggestions and not endorsements by Maltby Centre. Talk to us at Maltby Centre if you want some further advice.
Suicide Prevention Apps
notOK is a free app developed by a struggling teenager (and her teen brother) for teenagers. The app features a large, red button that can be activated to let close friends, family and their support network know help is needed.
General Mental Health Apps
What’s up is an amazing free app that uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) methods to help you cope with Depression, Anxiety, Stress, and more.
MoodKit helps you learn how to change how you think, and develop self-awareness and healthy attitudes. The journal feature is a great way to practice self-care by reflecting on the day, noting any distressing thoughts, and documenting how you overcame them.
Anxiety Apps
Mind Shift is one of the best mental health apps designed specifically for teens and young adults with anxiety.
Self-Help for Anxiety Management (SAM)
SAM might be perfect for you if you’re interested in self-help, but meditation isn’t your thing.
Depression Apps
Try various engaging games, activity suggestions, gratitude prompts and more to train your brain as if it were a muscle, to overcome negative thoughts. The best part? Its free!
MoodTools aims to support people with clinical depression by aiding the path to recovery.
Bipolar Disorder Apps
Part personal journal and part mood tracker, IMoodJournal can be used to record everything from mood and symptoms, to sleep, medications, and energy cycles.
eMoods is a mood tracking app designed specifically for people with bipolar disorder.
PTSD Apps
Created by the VA’s National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), PTSD Coach offers everything from a self-assessment for PTSD, to opportunities to find support, positive self-talk, and anger management.
Breathe2Relax Breathe2Relax on the App Store (apple.com)
Sometimes you just need to breathe and remind yourself you are okay. Breathe2Relax is made for just that.
Schizophrenia Apps
Schizophrenia patients are prone to social isolation even when their condition is treated. The PRIME app, created by psychiatry professor Danielle Shlosser, connects people with schizophrenia to their peers through a social network style interface.
Mindfulness and Meditation Apps
The Headspace app makes meditation simple. Learn the skills of mindfulness and meditation by using this app for just a few minutes per day.