Island Health has come up with an innovative way to promote positive mental health practices for youth. “BoosterBuddy” is a mobile app that uses animal characters to guide teens and young adults through daily quests and challenges that teach key tools to deal with mental health issues.
Lauren Fox is an occupational therapist and the lead on the project.
Fox says 70 per cent of adults with mental health issues first experienced them when they were young, so they’re hoping to give young people the tools they need early on.
The app was developed thanks to a $150,000 grant from Coast Capital Savings and the Victoria Hospital Foundations “Building Care Together” campaign. BoosterBuddy can be downloaded for free through Google Play and Apples App store.
