Innovation Saskatchewan and the Ministry of Agriculture have joined with Saskatoon-based Bridges Health to present farmers with a tool to trace their mental health and connect them with supports.
The mobile app developed by Bridges Health was chosen during the provincial Innovation Challenge held in the spring of 2020.
Bridges Health will accept $10,000 in funding and a 16-week collaboration with provincial government to create the mobile app as the 2020 Innovation Challenge winners.
Other technology entrepreneurs presented a host of inventions meant to help Saskatchewan farmers, ranchers and agricultural workers to dynamically observe fluctuations in their mental health for this year’s Innovation Challenge.
“Despite progress made, there’s still stigma associated with asking for support when it comes to mental health,” Minister Responsible for Innovation Saskatchewan Tina Beaudry-Mellor confirmed. “Having access to an app in the privacy of one’s own home will enhance the likelihood of people asking for help when they need it the most.”
Saskatchewan farm stress line calls doubled in 2018-2019 compared to 2017-2018.
COVID-19 placed more anxieties on producers in the province’s agriculture sector in 2020.
The app called Avail is capable of analyzing wellness data provided by the user and also provides relatable information in several forms, such as articles, videos and online tips.
Avail also offers straightforward assistance from the user’s personal support network.
“Saskatchewan producers face unique challenges when it comes to dealing with mental health and we are committed to providing resources and strategies to help support them,” Agriculture Minister David Marit said. “We know there is a need for solutions like this and I’m looking forward to working with Bridges Health to provide a resource custom-built for the agriculture industry,” the minister added.
“As a company founded and based in Saskatchewan, the agriculture sector touches both our business and our families,” Bridges Health Vice President Leon Ferguson said. “We are honoured to have this opportunity to work with government and partners to develop and advance this mental health and overall wellness tool.”
Innovation Challenges and aimed to inspire Saskatchewan-based tech companies to unearth ground-breaking answers to subjects confronting the public.
Earlier ventures in the challenge included tech responses to rural crime, online permissions for hunting and fishing on private land and tracking landfill waste.
Saskatchewan’s former Innovation Challenge winners and program material can be found at https://innovationsask.ca/initiatives/innovation-challenge/previous-innovation-challenges.
