TELUS (TSX: T, NYSE: TU) has unveiled GameRx™, a first-of-its-kind online wellness platform that curates video games based on their therapeutic benefits—aiming to tackle everything from stress and memory loss to loneliness and mobility challenges.
Built around the growing body of research linking gaming with positive mental health outcomes, GameRx.ca offers evidence-based game recommendations designed to promote emotional and cognitive wellbeing.
The launch comes at a time when Canadians are facing the steepest mental health decline since 2020, according to the TELUS Mental Health Index (2024).
“As a leader in connectivity, TELUS is uniquely positioned to understand how Canadians game and connect,” said Dwayne Benefield, Chief Product Officer at TELUS.
“What excites me most is seeing how gaming has transformed into this incredible tool for wellness and personal growth. We’re not just talking about entertainment anymore—we’re seeing real impacts on mental health, stress relief and building social connections.”
Gaming as therapy: From Distraction to connection
The platform is based on a growing understanding that video games can offer more than escapism—they can foster community, reduce stress, and even improve cognitive function. The 2025 TELUS Gaming Survey found that over one-third of Canadians use gaming to cope with life’s challenges, and nearly half see it as a tool to promote health, diversity and connection.
“There’s some stigma that has developed around gaming. In reality, many people game in a way that reduces stress, introduces them to new people and is a healthy part of their lifestyle,” said Dr. Matthew Chow, Chief Mental Health Officer at TELUS Health. “TELUS is elevating the conversation around a tremendously popular activity like gaming and how it can be used as a productive area for promoting wellbeing.”
How GameRx™ works
GameRx helps users match their wellness goals to specific types of games. Someone struggling with stress, for instance, may be guided toward puzzle or simulation titles that offer low-pressure, goal-oriented gameplay. Those looking to combat loneliness might be nudged toward multiplayer co-op experiences that emphasize social connection.
Visitors can explore game suggestions tailored to issues like:
- Stress – immersive games with achievable tasks
- Focus and memory – strategy and rhythm-based games
- Mobility – adaptive and motion-controlled titles
- Loneliness – social and cooperative multiplayer games
Currently available in English, French support will roll out by the end of April.
More than just play
Beyond the individual user, GameRx is TELUS’ latest move to bridge its network leadership with its growing healthcare innovation platform. The company is already leveraging its PureFibre and 5G networks to support remote care, mental health tools, and telemedicine—making the step into wellness-driven gaming a natural evolution.
As the gaming industry continues to outpace both music and film in size, TELUS is betting that it can also become a mainstream wellness tool not just for hardcore gamers but for anyone looking to feel more focused and more connected.