KAWARTHA LAKES-Juggling two kids, home life, the demands of shift work and the stress that comes with being a police officer has been a challenge for PC Ken Downing. He says his diet has really suffered from the shift work. “The two days/two nights, twelve hour shifts here is a lot to juggle and particularly the diet can suffer.” Downing told Kawartha 411. “With our job, especially when you are looking for something to eat late at night, everything closes. So preparing meals and eating healthier foods was something that I benefited from directly from the app.”
Downing has been an officer since 2006 and with the City of Kawartha Lakes Police Service since 2009. Three months ago he signed on to a pilot project using the new Avail app to help first responders. Kawartha Lakes Police service was one of three chosen to take part in the pilot utilizing the app, after a meeting with the Avail team in September. “The Chief is creating a passion and culture of care that is prevalent and he’s a big believer in technology as the future to help first responders.” Jason McFadden, Chief Strategy Officer, Avail explained to Kawartha 411.
Avail is billed as “Your Personal Intelligent Health Assistant.” It’s an app that monitors changes in your mood, energy, stress, sleep quality and more using digital check-ins. “What you measure you can manage.” McFadden says. “Avail suggests personalized action plans and support resources to improve your well-being and help you be your best you.”
The app shows officers all the supports available within their organization at the click of a button. “Using something that is so user friendly is amazing.” Downing says “The app is so user friendly in how it is able to monitor your sleeping patterns and your mental well being and how you are eating and your social tendencies. It was really impressive to me.”
Downing says it’s helped him to recognize areas where he could do better such as spending more time with friends, sleeping better and improving his eating habits. “I have used some of the little articles that pop up and say you might benefit from reading more about this and that’s helped me.”
McFadden is impressed with the culture at the Kawartha Lakes Police Service in taking a proactive approach to the health and wellbeing of it’s members. “This is one organization that has opened up and is like let’s do things to create this, “we take care of others, lets take care of ourselves”. That’s very unique about them and very cool.”
When Downing came down with a cold a few weeks ago he turned to the app for help. “I’ve got a cold so I’m trying different remedies that the app offered and they come up directly if your score starts to dip in a certain area.” Downing explains. “You can add an ailment to the app and say I’ve got a cold, so it says for cold remedies you can try this, this can help you sleep better. Knowing that is there is pretty cool.” All of the articles and information is specifically geared to first responders.
Users can also add “Connections” to the app. Connections are people who are there to keep an eye on you and watch for signs of trouble. “The way it works unfortunately is that you usually don’t know when someone is in crisis or having difficulty with a certain area in their life, you don’t know they are struggling until maybe its too late” Downing states. “I think this is, especially with first responder suicides, self harm and mental health issues, this is going to be a great help to us.”
The “Connections” are sent an alert when someones health and wellbeing score dips too low and they can reach out to see if the member needs help.
Downing also likes the idea of Doctors on Demand. “If I happen to have something happen in my life where I am looking for some help right now, it’s the middle of the night, I can’t call the doctor, I don’t want to go to the clinic, I’d rather do it in confidence. Having the doctors and specialists available to video chat on your phone is incredible.” exclaims Downing.
The Inkblot feature is also gaining popularity. “They are now starting to think about using the Inkblot, life coaching and therapy. It’s so affordable.” The first session is free and then every session after that is $37.50. “We make no money on those services, but the idea is because it’s an inexpensive cost in correlation to my benefits, my likelihood of accessing it and getting help is much better.” Explains McFadden.
There are currently 18 members of the KLPS taking part in the pilot. The pilot is free and runs until the New Year. After that it’s $10 per month, per member who is using it. “So if we can save one sick day it more than pays for itself.” says Mcfadden.
Downing says he hopes the Chief decides to sign on with the program once the pilot comes to an end. “They should absolutely continue on with this, I would keep using it.”
Pamela VanMeer is a veteran, award winning journalist. She won the prestigious RTDNA Ron Laidlaw Regional and National Award for Continuing Coverage of elder abuse in Long Term Care. She was a reporter/anchor at CHEX TV and CHCH in Hamilton before moving back home and starting Kawartha 411 News.
