About Centre Axel
A pioneer in digital mental health research
An initiative born of research
Founded in 2018 by researchers Stéphane Guay and Isabelle Ouellet-Morin, the Centre Axel was born within the Research Centre of the Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal (CR-IUSMM) with a clear objective: to mobilize expertise in digital technologies and mental health to better support clinicians, patients, the population and researchers.
From the outset, the Centre has capitalized on the potential of digital technologies to :
- provide clinicians with scientifically validated diagnostic tools and real-time monitoring solutions;
- empower patients and the general public in terms of prevention and access to services;
- equip researchers through agile partnerships and cutting-edge technologies.
This approach has enabled several digital mental health tools to see the light of day or gain momentum, such as the +Fort mobile app, designed by researcher Isabelle Ouellet-Morin, or Avatar therapy, designed by researchers Alexandre Dumais and Stéphane Potvin.
The Centre Axel has rapidly established itself as a pioneer of digital innovation in mental health in Quebec and beyond. Its role is to develop innovative, scientifically-validated digital mental health solutions.
Our mission
Facilitating digital innovation for mental health research and care
12+
projects and researchers supported
6 421 938 $
in funding obtained by our researchers for digital mental health projects
Our technologies
Mobile apps, web tools, virtual reality, artificial intelligence...
A vision shared with government authorities
In February 2020, a few weeks before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centre Axel (with the support of CIUSSS EMTL’s general management) presented Minister Lionel Carmant with a Quebec strategy for access to new technologies for mental health. The strategy was designed to
- Improve access to mental health care;
- Promote the integration of technologies into the healthcare network.
This vision became a reality in June 2020 with the promotion of the tool Aller mieux à ma façon, designed by researcher Janie Houle, to support people dealing with anxiety and depression during the pandemic.
This partnership led to the integration of a digital mental health strategy into the 2022-2026 Interdepartmental Action Plan, accompanied by $12 million in funding to create the Centre d’expertise en technologie de l’information – Santé mentale, dépendance, itinérance (CETI-SMDI), piloted by CIUSSS EMTL and deployed province-wide.
CETI-SMDI now plays a major role in deploying validated digital mental health solutions in the healthcare network.
First tool recommended by the MSSS
Aller mieux… à ma façon
Aller mieux… à ma façon is a self-management support tool that can help you regain your balance and feel good again. Offered free of charge, this tool helps you identify ways to get better and take care of your health. It was originally developed to help people experiencing difficulties related to anxiety, depression or bipolar disorder.
Aller mieux… à ma façon is now an information asset of the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS). It is managed and operated by the Centre d’expertise en technologie de l’information – Santé mentale, dépendance, itinérance (CETI-SMDI).
Launch Aller mieux... à ma façon
A new era for Centre Axel
Since 2022, Centre Axel has gradually refocused its activities on supporting digital innovation in mental health. As CR-IUSMM‘s strategic platform, it has set up :
- a coaching process for the development of digital mental health innovations;
- a digital mental health course for psychiatry and addictology residents at Université de Montréal;
- a strategic partnership with IVADO and Université de Montréal’s Strategy in Neuroscience and Mental Health.
In 2024, the Centre Axel team was enriched by the arrival of :
- Stéphane Vial, researcher specializing in design for digital mental health, founder of the Mentallys platform, co-director of Centre Axel until June 2025;
- Marc Lanovaz, researcher specializing in digital tools for people with autism or intellectual disabilities, technology platform manager for Centre Axel;
- Johana Monthuy-Blanc, researcher specializing in the use of virtual reality for eating disorders, new director of Centre Axel from June 2025.
With this new team and expanded vision, the Centre Axel now defines itself as a facilitator of digital innovations for mental health research and care, at the service of the CR-IUSMM and the Alliance en santé mentale du Québec.
The current Axel Centre team
Johana Monthuy-Blanc
Director (Since 2025)A regular researcher at the IUSMM Research Center, specializing in the use of virtual reality for eating disorders, Johana Monthuy-Blanc is a full professor at the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, in the Education Sciences Department, and head of the Loricorps transdisciplinary research unit. Since June 2025, she is the new Director of the Centre Axel.
Marc Lanovaz
Platform managerA regular researcher at the IUSMM Research Center, specializing in artificial intelligence and developmental disorders, Marc Lanovaz is a full professor at the Université de Montréal’s School of Psychoeducation and Scientific Director of the Institut universitaire en déficience intellectuelle et en trouble du spectre de l’autisme. He is the designer of the mobile application Mon employé autiste, and is responsible for platforms at Centre Axel.
Previous Axel Center managers
Stéphane Guay
Co-director (2018-2025)A regular researcher at the IUSMM Research Center, specializing in the assessment and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, Stéphane Guay is a full professor in the School of Criminology and the Department of Psychiatry and Addictology at Université de Montréal. Former scientific director of CR-IUSMM and co-director of the Centre d’études sur le trauma, he co-founded the Centre Axel in 2018, and co-directed it until 2025.
Isabelle Ouellet-Morin
Co-director (2018-2023)A regular researcher at the IUSMM Research Centre and holder of the Canada Research Chair on the Developmental Origins of Vulnerability and Resilience, Isabelle Ouellet-Morin is a full professor at the Université de Montréal School of Criminology, and designer of the +Fort mobile app. She co-founded Centre Axel in 2018, and co-directed it until 2023. Today, she is co-director of the Centre d’expertise en technologie de l’information – Santé mentale, dépendance, itinérance (CETI-SMDI).
Stéphane Vial
Co-director (2024-2025)A regular researcher at the IUSMM Research Centre and holder of the Diament UQAM Chair in Design for e-Mental Health (2020-2025), Stéphane Vial is a full professor at the École de design de l’Université du Québec à Montréal and designer of the Mentallys platform. He was co-director of the Centre Axel from January 2024 to June 2025 and, during a transition mandate, helped redefine the Centre’s strategic positioning and redesign the website.