WHAT IS UPOPOLIS?
Upopolis safely connects youth who are navigating medical conditions and other stressful life events.
Upopolis is a free, fun, and secure online community that connects youth 13 to 23 with others like them who are going through medical experiences or life challenges in North America. Upopolis reduces social isolation while educating and empowering youth to play an active role in managing and coping with their diagnosis, condition, or challenge.
In 2020, we expanded Upopolis to include an “island”, a place where youth navigating life challenges can connect. Upopolis Island offers private groups for youth who are navigating grief, siblings of youth who are living with a medical condition and soon youth of parents living with a critical or chronic illness. Youth will have access to peer support, resources, activities shared by our child life team and more.
Upopolis launched at McMaster Children’s Hospital in 2007 and today includes a total of 14 hospitals and treatment centres, providing hundreds of hospitalized youth with access to this therapeutic network.
Upopolis sites
Children’s Hospitals, Community Hospitals, Youth Treatment Centres and Nonprofit Partners using Upopolis as a therapeutic tool (for their patients/clients 10-18 years of age) include*:
BC Children’s Hospital
Bethell Hospice
Brigadoon Village
Camp Erin
Cape Breton Regional Hospital
Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario
CHU Sainte-Justine
Dr. Jay Children’s Grief Centre
Five Counties Children’s Center
Grey Bruce Health Services
Heart House Hospice
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital
IWK Health Centre
Janeway Children's Health & Rehabilitation Centre
Kedooopse
London Health Science Centre
Lutherwood
McMaster Children’s Hospital
Montreal Children's Hospital
North York General Hospital
Paradise Youth Treatment Center
Ronald McDonald House Canada Northern Alberta
SickKids Hospital
Shriner's Hospital for Children, Montreal
Stollery Children’s Hospital
Trillium Health Partners
Victoria General Hospital / Island Health
Windsor Falls Youth Treatment Centre
Therapeutic Goals of Upopolis
Upopolis is a therapeutic online network comprised of paediatric patients (youth) aged 10 - 23 years, youth mentors, child life specialists and health care professionals. The goals of Upopolis are:
to provide a safe and therapeutic online outlet for youth with a chronic illness or hospital experience to connect with one another
to promote creativity for youth by allowing them to create their own spaces on Upopolis to share experiences and interests with other users
to access trusted medical, health and wellness information provided by individual hospitals/clinics/centres that is vetted by health care professionals
to express themselves through blogging, photos, live chats and online activities always with the support and supervision of mentors and health care staff who understand their unique struggles and experiences
to enhance the experience of a social support platform to one that is therapeutic and unique in meeting the needs of youth with chronic illness and hospital experiences.
Interested in joining Upopolis?
Click here if you’d like more information on how you or your organization can join Upopolis or email Upopolis Program Manager, Krista Naugler.
Uknow is medical content that is provided to Upopolis users on a variety of topics ranging from explanations of diagnoses, unique hospital video tours, coping and distraction techniques and resources. Individual hospitals/centres are able to post their own content so information is applicable to what users may experience. Here’s an example of a recently completed Uknow video: Exploring the Operating Room.
“Upopolis has really helped me get through a lot! Being able to connect with other kids and teens going through treatment has really opened my eyes. Always knowing I have support from all the Upopolis users and that I support everyone is a really great thing to be able to turn to during treatment.”
“Upopolis is awesome! I love how you can chat with people and email friends, but I think the best part has to be how you can create your own space about anything you want and then invite people to join! Upopolis is something that I go on almost every day! I love it and if I had one word to describe it, I would say FUN!”
“I like having the external user feature and being able to add my family and friends ‘cause it allows me to chat, email and share photos with my cousin from across the country. Plus, Upopolis is like Facebook in a way, but since my Mom wants me to be a little older before I get it, this is a way for me to share everything that’s going on with my family and friends!”
“I don’t have any other social media than Upopolis so I really like using it because it is kinda like Facebook but better, LOL. Also on Facebook, you can’t go to someone directly for advice because they could be someone you don’t want to meet but on Upopolis you can trust.”
