Funding is yet to be secured to further the virtual reality program. (Submitted photo/Saskatchewan Polytechnic)

By Derek Cornet

partnership

Virtual reality wellness initiative celebrated in La Loche

Dec 2, 2022 | 5:00 PM

Residents of La Loche held an event Thursday with Saskatchewan Polytechnic to celebrate achievements to date on their collaborative virtual reality (VR) wellness initiative.

Held at the local Dene High School in La Loche, the event was an opportunity for researchers to unveil to residents a promotional video created by the Sask Polytech applied research team and La Loche youth. For many of the youth research participants, it was the first time they were able to share what they have been working on with their families in a tangible way.

The applied research partnership focuses on addressing disparities in mental health care access and supports experienced by Indigenous youth, a group with a suicide rate of five to six times higher than non-Indigenous youth in Canada. It began in 2020.

Recognizing that the current approach to providing mental health care is not adequate, the applied research team is working closely with the community to explore innovative new ways to support Indigenous youth wellness.

The project is currently in its first phase of gathering data and creating community partnerships.

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“The project focuses on the pillars of safety, identity, and belonging and has the ultimate goal of creating a VR platform to enhance the well-being of Indigenous youth living in rural, remote, and northern communities,” the release states. “VR technology holds the potential to expand the tools available, reduce the sense of stigma and meet the needs of Indigenous youth in a culturally responsive way.

La Loche youth, who brought forward the idea of using VR for mental wellness, have been integral to the collaboration so far. Research lead, Lindsey Boechler, has been working with them to gather data and begin creating resources.

“The students in this promo video are our project’s on-the-ground innovators,” she said. “They should be proud of what we have accomplished together so far. We are excited to share our vision of what this initiative could be with further development.”

Further funding is needed to continue the project into its proposed second and third years. In these next phases, Sask Polytech will work towards building a secure VR platform and will continue forming and fostering community partnerships and building local capacity surrounding the use and development of VR technology.

“This event was a celebration,” said Alvera Hatch, the wellness coordinator at Dene High School. “We came together to feast, enjoy entertainment from local jiggers and share what our youth have been collaborating on with Sask Polytech.”

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno