Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan have launched a new digital program that is aiming to support mental health during the pandemic.

Dr. Tracie Risling, Associate Professor in the College of Nursing and one of the research leads for the SaskWell says it is a way to connect people to the huge amount of digital mental health tools that are out there. People can sign up by taking an online survey and then mental health information gets sent via text based on those results. Risling says every 10 weeks texts will be sent out to participants with mental health tools and wellness tips and people will be able to provide feedback on how effective they think the tools recommended were.

Risling says text message were chosen because it is currently the lowest common denominator of tech that most have access to. She says the program takes into account how a person is feeling, where they are at mentally, and what kind of technology they have access to, and that’s how a host of resources are distributed. Risling adds resources include national, government and health initiatives, some that can track mood or symptoms, and others that provide more immediate resources.

The Saskwell program was created after Risling’s team was awarded a Canadian Institutes of Health Research and Saskatchewan Health Research Fund COVID-19 Response grant.