The Isaksimagit Inuusirmi Katujjiqatigiit Embrace Life Council launched the free Isumajunnattiarniq app for Embrace Life Day on Sept. 10. (Photo courtesy of Isaksimagit Inuusirmi Katujjiqatigiit Embrace Life Council)
New phone app designed to aid Inuit mental health
Nunavut non-profit releases app in time for World Suicide Prevention Day
A made-in-Nunavut free phone app has launched in time for World Suicide Prevention Day on Sept. 10.
Designed by the Isaksimagit Inuusirmi Katujjiqatigiit Embrace Life Council, the new tech tool is meant to support the mental health and well-being of Nunavummiut using digital innovation and traditional Inuit knowledge.
Named for the Inuktitut word for mindfulness, the Isumajunnattiarniq app was created for users of all ages to help manage stress and trauma-related symptoms, according to the council’s news release issued Monday.
The app is based on contemporary wellness practices as well as Inuit generational wisdom. It uses familiar Arctic motifs to reinforce cultural resilience and people’s connection to the land.
Features the app provides to promote relaxation and stress relief include guided meditation, therapeutic breathing exercises and elders’ stories.
Calming, ambient audio on the app includes the sound of walking on crunchy snow, children playing at the ocean, goose calls, elders talking over tea and bannock, and throat singing.
“The app is currently available only on the Apple Store,” said Cecile Guerin, executive director of the Isaksimagit Inuusirmi Katujjiqatigiit Embrace Life Council.
“We’ll announce when it’s ready on Google Play (Play Store). We’re hoping it will be available by the end of the week.”
With internet access limited in remote areas of Nunavut, the app is designed to function in both online and offline modes.
The app is available in Inuktitut and English, with an Inuinnaqtun version coming soon.
The non-profit Isaksimagit Inuusirmi Katujjiqatigiit Embrace Life Council was established in 2004 through partnerships with the Government of Nunavut, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. and the RCMP.
The council’s head office is in Iqaluit with additional offices in the Kivalliq and Kitikmeot regions.
World Suicide Prevention Day, also known as Embrace Life Day in Nunavut, was established in 2003 by the World Health Organization in collaboration with the International Association for Suicide Prevention.
Brilliant. A phone app to help people with mental health issues because of spending too much time on their phones.
What your solution, we know there isn’t enough help for mental health in the communities, I am pretty sure you have a background in mental health.
There’s a tendency today to think technology, apps specifically, can do anything, but I agree with the sentiment above. For real mental health supports we need real human connection.
I agree we definitely need more resources and human connections. That shouldn’t take away from the uniqueness of this app though, it allows someone to access elder’s stories and mindfulness practices, which is something we haven’t seen before, and I’m not sure how that can be taken in a negative way.
If people are on their phones anyway,it is a great way to reach out to them, especially youth. I doubt pone addiction is the main mental health problem people have in Nunavut anyway. This app sounds like great idea to me, one more tool to help people. You need multiple tools.
My experience has been that elders are often the cause of mental health concerns. Not sure that you’d necessarily want to connect with them. You could, but you’d have to be very selective.
Remember not everyone can afford a cell phone.
I don’t think this is to replace counselling but it maybe a starting tool, what is your solution as most people use phones for day to day. I am pretty sure the app has more resources links.
I downloaded it and the first few meditations are guided by a great narrator, awesome stuff ELC, we need more Inuit-specific resources and this app is a great initiative. Qujannamiik!
This is great, anything to help us get to get past our trauma from colonization, residential schools, current situation with our own government where Inuit and Inuktut are still being destroyed today.
I just wish our government would represent Inuit better, the leaders in our government are too weak and just listen to the experts from outside Nunavut.