Anishnabeg Outreach creates new software program to help heal trauma

A new software program created by Anishnabeg Outreach is currently in development to help Indigenous people heal from trauma.

The program, called AONest, is a web-based program that includes around 600 courses and 2,500 worksheets for people to use on their own time and is the equivalent to 4,000 hours of therapy.

Stephen Jackson, the CEO of Anishnabeg Outreach, said he hopes the program will help prevent homelessness and held Indigenous people heal from trauma.

“It’s really a learning management system,” he said. “We teach people how to heal themselves. We teach everything there is to know about the topic, we develop a process that people can follow, we develop a worksheets that guide them through that process so they can come up with their own mental health solutions.”

Some of the courses cover topics such as emotional intelligence, emotional resilience, ADHD, conflict resolution and coping strategies.

The program does not receive much funding and they have started a new fundraising campaign this week. Some companies, including the TELUS Future Friendly Foundation and RBC have made donations to the program. The group is also working with IBM to help develop an app and get help with their marketing strategy.

Jackson said they have partnered with at least 10 organizations and have at least 30,000 people on a wait list to use the program.

“You actually can’t learn, help people or work unless you are healed,” said Jackson. “If we were able to give mental health and essential life skills to all the people in the shelter system, we could proactively prevent things like homelessness and incarcerations.”

The software is expected to be launched by the end of this week or beginning of next week as the team puts on the finishing touches.