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Montclair Startup’s Mobile Game Helps YMCA Members Manage Anxiety Through Play
Free tools and resources make mental-health support easier to access for Montclair Y members
The YMCA of Montclair is working with local digital health company Arcade Therapeutics to provide members with free access to StarStarter for Anxiety, a mobile game designed to help users manage symptoms of stress and anxiety through short, engaging play sessions.
The initiative expands the Y’s commitment to whole-person wellness by introducing innovative digital tools that make mental-health support easier to access in everyday settings.
“Anxiety affects one in three Americans, but many never seek treatment because of stigma, cost, or lack of access,” said Raj Amin, co-founder and CEO of Arcade Therapeutics and a YMCA of Montclair member. “By meeting people where they already feel comfortable, we can make mental-health support more approachable and less clinical.”
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Arcade’s StarStarter app uses neuroscience and clinical research to retrain subconscious responses linked to anxiety. In company studies, 90 percent of users reported symptom improvement, with average reductions of 33 percent after 30 days.
YMCA leaders say the addition of StarStarter reflects the organization’s focus on helping members thrive physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Find out what's happening in Montclairfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“When our member Raj Amin introduced us to this opportunity, we felt it couldn’t come at a better time,” said Buddy Evans, president and CEO of the YMCA of Montclair. “Mental health is an essential part of overall well-being, and we want to normalize talking about it and connecting people to resources that can help.”
Founded more than 130 years ago, the YMCA of Montclair serves over 14,000 members across 11 communities in northern New Jersey. Arcade Therapeutics, also based in Montclair, specializes in evidence-based therapeutic games supported by research collaborations with institutions including UT Austin and the National Institutes of Health.
Members can access StarStarter for Anxiety free for six months as part of the Y’s wellness offerings.
For more information, visit montclairymca.org or arcadetherapeutics.com.
