Reaffirming our commitment to Indigenous mental wellness, TryCycle is proud to announce that Talking Stick has earned national recognition from the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) for meeting national standards for mental health apps.

Developed with Indigenous partners, advisors, and community members, Talking Stick provides anonymous access to culturally safe peer support, connecting individuals to people with shared and lived experiences. The app was launched in 2022 to serve and support the unique mental health needs of Indigenous people and communities across the country.

The MHCC Compliance Badge was awarded to Talking Stick, following a rigorous multi-step, phased assessment led in partnership with ORCHA (the Organization for the Review of Care and Health Apps). The assessment placed Talking Stick among the first of seven mental health apps in Canada, to meet the highest standards in Data Privacy, Clinical Safety, Usability, Accessibility, Cultural Safety, & Data Sovereignty.

The Talking Stick app now carries two distinct badges symbolizing their achievements from both MHCC and ORCHA.

  • The MHCC Assessment evaluates mental health apps based on Canadian standards, with an added emphasis on cultural safety, social responsibility, and equity. The MHCC’s approach is specifically tailored to mental health apps, ensuring they are culturally appropriate and equitable for users in Canada.
  • The ORCHA Baseline Review assessed the Talking Stick app against international standards, ensuring that apps meet globally recognized benchmarks for safety, clinical assurance, and user accessibility. ORCHA is a proud partner in this evaluation process, playing a vital role in assessing the first cohort of digital mental health apps in Canada to carry the distinct badges.

“Talking Stick is about connection and reclaiming space in mental health care,” said Cecile McKay, TryCycle’s Provincial Director of Talking Stick. “This national recognition validates the importance of Indigenous-led solutions.”

Earning national verification under Canada’s new digital mental health assessment framework is a key milestone for the team – and a reflection of the best practices now embedded in how TryCycle designs and develops all their health apps going forward.

“This achievement speaks to our design team’s commitment to mental health and the development team’s focus on creating a great experience for our users.” says Rachel Hartviksen, Software Development Manager at TryCycle. “I’m incredibly proud that we’ve met these standards, and I’m inspired to keep raising the bar in everything we build.”

TryCycle invites communities, health organizations, and mental health providers to explore Talking Stick as a resource for Indigenous mental health support, capacity building, community safety, and more.

Learn more about Talking Stick here.

About: The Mental Health Commission of Canada’s Assessment Framework for Mental Health Apps is a national framework containing key standards for safe, quality, and effective mental health apps in Canada.
Learn more here: mentalhealthcommission.ca/app-assessment