Information & Support

Apps for emotional wellbeing

Some people find apps useful for practising relaxation, working through anxious thoughts, or building a mindfulness routine.

This guide introduces a small selection of self-guided tools you can explore alongside other support. These apps are not specific to pancreatic cancer, and they do not replace professional care. We chose them the way CAMH recommends: by checking who made them, what evidence supports them, what they cost, and what happens to the information you enter.

If you need help right now

If you are thinking about suicide or harming yourself, call or text 9-8-8 — free, confidential, 24 hours a day, anywhere in Canada. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 9-1-1.

Working through anxious thoughts

MindShift — developed in Canada

MindShift CBT

Self-guided tools for working with anxious thoughts and practising coping skills, using approaches drawn from cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). It was originally developed in partnership with Anxiety Canada.

Helps with: Anxious thoughts and coping skills
What to expect: Guided CBT tools, daily check-ins, and thought records you can export to share with your own therapist or doctor, plus a free library of plain-language guides
Cost: Free
Devices: iPhone and Android
Evidence: The developer reports a 16-week clinical trial with published, peer-reviewed results showing improvements in anxiety, functioning, and quality of life
Limitations: A self-help and self-management tool. It is not a medical device, and it is not a replacement for therapy or crisis care. It is not specific to pancreatic cancer

Visit the MindShift CBT website →

Practising mindfulness

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — National Center for PTSD

Mindfulness Coach

A gradual introduction to mindfulness, with guided practice and tools for building a routine. It was created for veterans and service members, and it is open to anyone interested in learning mindfulness — no PTSD diagnosis needed.

Helps with: Mindfulness practice, stress, and grounding
What to expect: A step-by-step, self-guided training program, audio-guided exercises, practice tracking, and reminders
Cost: Free, with no add-on purchases
Devices: iPhone, iPad, and Android — listed in the Canadian app stores
Account: No account required. Your practice entries stay on your device
Privacy: The App Store listing states the app does not take or share your personal information; some usage and diagnostic data may be collected, but it is not linked to your identity
Limitations: Developed in the United States, so its in-app help and crisis links are American — in Canada, use 9-8-8. It is not intended to replace professional care

Visit the Mindfulness Coach page at the VA →

Choose a tool that fits your needs

Before downloading, check:

What is free, and what requires payment?
Will a trial automatically become a subscription?
What information does the app collect or share?
Can you delete your account and your data?
Who developed it, and what evidence supports its claims?

An app is an option, not another task you have to complete. If one does not suit you, you can stop using it, or explore a different kind of support.

Looking for someone to talk to?

Apps are only one option. Our emotional support page brings together support groups, online communities, and counselling.

Find emotional support →

How we chose these

This is a short list on purpose. Each app was checked in October 2026 against the developer’s own site and its Canadian app-store listings: who is responsible for it, what it costs, whether it needs an account, what data it collects, and what evidence supports it. We have deliberately left AI therapy chatbots out of this first selection, pending a separate review of their evidence, privacy, and safety. If an app’s details change, we will update its listing.

Listings are provided for information and are not an endorsement or a treatment recommendation.
Last reviewed: October 24, 2026 · Report an outdated listing