Gaming and wellness might not seem like a natural combo—but TELUS is working to change that. As a Canadian technology company known for both connectivity and digital health, TELUS has spent years investing in tools that go beyond internet and phone service.
Now it’s bringing those efforts into the gaming space with the GameRx wellness gaming platform—a science-backed site that connects video games with mental and physical wellbeing. From managing stress to improving focus or memory, GameRx recommends games based on research, expert insights, and public data. It’s not meant to replace treatment—it’s designed to support healthier digital habits and reduce stigma around gaming.
TELUS says nearly one in three Canadians now use gaming to cope with life’s challenges, and almost half believe games can support mental health. With GameRx, the company wants to meet that moment—and help Canadians and gamers around the world get more from the time they already spend gaming. So what exactly is GameRx—and how does it work?
What Is GameRx?
GameRx is a wellness-focused gaming resource built to help Canadians and gamers around the world find video games that may support mental or physical health goals. Developed by TELUS, the platform links everyday gaming with research on how certain types of games might help reduce stress, improve focus, support memory, ease loneliness, or encourage movement. It’s meant for anyone—whether you spend time with online shooters, laid-back sims, or puzzle games on your phone.
The site is easy to browse. You can explore categories based on wellness goals and see examples of game types that might support each one. Some sections even suggest actual games to try. For example, puzzle games with small goals may help with stress, while RPGs that involve planning and routine could support memory.
What makes GameRx stand out is how it pulls together a wide range of global research in one place. It’s designed to be interactive and approachable, even if you don’t play games often. Alongside recommendations, you’ll find short summaries of research and real-world stories about how people are using games to support their wellbeing.
TELUS is also clear that GameRx isn’t a medical tool. It won’t diagnose anything or offer treatment plans. The goal is simply to make it easier for people to think about gaming as something that could support their daily wellness—not just as entertainment.
Why TELUS Launched It
TELUS isn’t new to health initiatives. Over the past few years, the company has expanded beyond connectivity into areas like mental health services and digital wellness tools. GameRx fits into that broader effort, but with a focus that feels more accessible—especially for people who already spend time gaming.
According to TELUS, the idea came from a simple question: what if gaming could support wellness instead of working against it? With nearly one in three Canadians now using games to manage stress or cope with daily challenges, the company saw an opportunity to meet people where they already are.
But TELUS also recognizes the gap in perception. A 2025 survey commissioned by the company found that 76% of Canadians still believe video games aren’t good for you. GameRx is TELUS’ attempt to challenge that assumption—not by offering medical solutions, but by showing how gaming habits might align with common wellness goals.
The project was shaped by data and expert input, including mental health professionals like Dr. Matthew Chow. But the platform itself doesn’t push any specific agenda. It’s less about changing the way you game, and more about giving you context for the benefits you might already be getting from it.
This isn’t TELUS’ first time supporting gaming either. The company previously launched an Esports Series and offers online safety tips through its TELUS Wise program. GameRx builds on that work—with support from experts like Dr. Kris Alexander from Toronto Metropolitan University and creative guidance from the team at Rethink.
Science and Surveys: Wellness Gains from Gaming
TELUS didn’t build GameRx on guesses. The platform is backed by data, including findings from its own 2025 Gamer Study. The survey polled 1,200 Canadians and was weighted to match the national population by age, gender, and region. It found that more than one-third of Canadians use video games to help cope with stress, anxiety, or daily pressures. Nearly half said gaming helps them feel more connected, more joyful, or simply more at ease.
These results echo a larger trend. A 2023 United Nations report noted that 75% of gamers find video games effective for stress relief. And TELUS’ own Mental Health Index showed the steepest drop in Canadian mental health since 2020—highlighting just how important coping tools have become.
GameRx doesn’t suggest gaming is a cure. But the data points to something a lot of people already know—games help. They offer comfort, connection, or just a way to take your mind off things. Maybe that’s zoning out with a puzzle game after work. Maybe it’s chatting with friends during an online match. Either way, it’s not just about passing the time. It’s about feeling a little better by the end of it.
The platform isn’t about telling you what to play. It’s about helping you understand how certain kinds of games might connect with what you’re going through.
A Responsible Approach to Gaming
GameRx doesn’t pretend that gaming is always helpful—or harmless. TELUS is clear about that from the start. While the platform highlights potential benefits, it also includes a warning about known risks, like video game addiction.
The site references research from the World Health Organization, which officially recognizes gaming disorder as a health concern. TELUS also points to Cleveland Clinic data suggesting that around 1.7% of gamers may struggle with addiction-related behaviours. While that number is small, the platform encourages anyone feeling out of control to seek professional help.
GameRx also includes a reminder that it’s not offering treatment or medical advice. You won’t find diagnostic tools or personalized health recommendations. What you will find is a collection of insights and research summaries meant to help you reflect on how gaming fits into your daily life—and how it might be supporting your mental or physical health in ways you hadn’t considered.
By addressing both the benefits and the risks, TELUS gives GameRx a more grounded tone. The platform isn’t here to sell you on gaming—it’s just trying to make sense of how it fits into a broader conversation about wellbeing.
Breaking Stigma and Building Awareness
There’s still a disconnect between how people view gaming and how it’s actually used. TELUS’ 2025 survey found that 76% of Canadians believe video games aren’t good for you. That gap is one of the reasons GameRx exists.
Dr. Matthew Chow from TELUS Health thinks it’s time to shift how we talk about gaming. He says it’s not just for kids or something people do to kill time. For a lot of folks, it’s part of how they connect with others, unwind, or stick to a familiar routine that helps them get through the day. And with gaming now bigger than the film and music industries combined, brushing it off—good or bad—just doesn’t make sense anymore.
GameRx isn’t claiming that gaming fixes everything. It’s just showing how people already use games to feel a bit better. That might mean relaxing with a puzzle game, catching up with friends online, or just building a routine that feels good. For a lot of people, gaming does more for their wellbeing than it gets credit for.
TELUS just wants to make the info easier to find—and easier to talk about. A lot of people are already getting something positive out of gaming, even if they’ve never really thought about it that way. TELUS has also brought in voices from the gaming community—like streamers and tech creators—to help keep the message grounded and relatable.
Reflecting on the Role Games Play
I’ve spent enough time gaming to know that it’s not just about fun. Sometimes it’s how I focus, unwind, or stay connected. So when I saw TELUS launching something like GameRx, I didn’t roll my eyes—I nodded. It felt like someone finally putting language to something a lot of us already experience.
The platform doesn’t try to tell you what to play or how to feel. It just lays out the research, gives you categories to explore, and lets you think about your own habits through a new lens. That low-pressure approach makes it feel more like a reference guide than a campaign.
If nothing else, GameRx gives people a starting point. Whether you’re trying to manage stress, improve your focus, or just understand the role gaming plays in your life, it’s worth checking out. Not every game will “help” in a clinical sense—but a game that helps you feel more like yourself at the end of the day? That’s worth something.
You can check out the platform now at www.GameRx.ca. And if gaming has helped you in your own way—stress relief, connection, focus—share your story. It’s something more of us should be talking about.
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