New app hoping to provide lasting change for mental health on Sask. First Nations

A new app looking to blend old ways and new technologies hopes to be at the forefront of battling mental health and addiction challenges on First Nations in Saskatchewan.

The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations partnered with private tech company TryCycle Data Systems and the federal government to launch a health monitoring app in up to 10 pilot communities.

The Big River First Nation began working with TryCycle to develop an app in April 2020. Chief Jack Rayne said the early returns are already obvious.

“It’s exactly what they said would happen,” Rayne said during a news conference launching the app.

“It’s pretty straightforward. It’s simple. That’s what I loved about when I first heard about it.”

So far, the app is being used by 25 users. Rayne said it has already helped health-care practitioners offer help to people struggling.

“That’s why we jumped on to this initiative. It’s excellent for our community,” he said.

TryCycle Data Systems CEO and founder John MacBeth described Thursday’s launch as 12 years of hard work.

The Ottawa-based company has worked with other First Nations across Canada and the United States in the past. The app works by asking users regular questions and connecting them to other people in the community or local health-care professionals.

MacBeth said the idea for TryCycle is grounded in Indigenous wellness and is meant to identify a mental health or addiction issue before it escalates further.

“You cannot have culture (and) you cannot have language without culture,” he said. “Being able to provide this in a culturally sensitive way is paramount to any type of future success.”

The app is available in both Cree and English with the hopes of adding other languages in the future.

“Addiction, mental health, substance use disorder, suicide, self-harm, a lot of these are lack of connection — lack of communication with another human being,” MacBeth said.