Volunteer recruitment campaign begins for mental health app named after JSCN victim

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A national campaign is currently underway to recruit volunteers for a peer support app named in memory of a Canadian military veteran who died trying to protect his family and others on the James Smith Cree Nation.

The Burns Way chat app allows veterans to connect directly with trained military personnel while filling gaps in care for those living in rural areas or isolated areas.

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The people behind the app announced last year that it would be named in memory of Earl Burns, who was one of 11 people killed in September 2022 when his former son-in-law, Myles Sanderson, went door-to-door stabbing people in the James Smith Cree Nation area and the nearby village of Weldon. Seventeen others were injured.

Burns, 66, was stabbed to death along with his wife, Joyce, in their home. As the attacker drove away, Burns pursued him in a school bus but died on the road.

“Every veteran seeking support must have the opportunity to anonymously connect with someone who understands their experiences firsthand,” said Bob Thibeau, president of Aboriginal Veterans Autochtones.

Burns served in Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. After leaving the military, he became a father and grandfather. He competed in rodeos. He also bought his own school bus and drove students to school on the reservation every day.

“In an ideal world, programs to support Canadians who served in war would be funded by the government. Sometimes funding is not available or priorities shift, so the private and nonprofit sectors must step in and fill the gap,” said John MacBeth, founder of TryCycle Data Systems.

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TryCycle previously launched a similar app called Talking Stick, which provides anonymous peer support for Indigenous Canadians. The Burns Way is a variation of the original effort.

MacBeth said last year that when he and his team learned that Burns was a veteran, it was obvious that Burns embodied “the bravery, the courage, the duty” for which the app should be named.

MacBeth said Burns’ family – and particularly his wife, who survived the attack – had given their consent for his name to be used on the app.

“Soldiers are a breed of people who know soldiers,” Thibeau said, pointing to the “strong bonds” between those who have served.

“The Burns Way will build on the unique perspectives and compassion of veterans who are uniquely positioned to provide support because of their shared experiences.”

Participants include the Royal Canadian Legion, Aboriginal Veterans Autochtones, Saskatchewan First Nations Veterans Association, Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, Rainbow Veterans of Canada, Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans in Canada (ANAVETS) and Veterans’ House Canada.

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TryCycle Data Systems is an Ottawa-based digital health software company focused on addiction and mental health apps.

The Burns Way app is designed to provide anonymity, no waitlists, support at any time of day or night, and does not use chatbots or AI. Messages will be automatically deleted after the chat ends, and users who need immediate professional help will be invited to connect with a support manager through another platform, the app developers say.

There are currently more than 461,000 veterans in Canada, and more than 90,000 of them are expected to be diagnosed with a mental health disorder such as depression, PTSD or anxiety disorder.

According to TryCycle Data Systems, one in six active members of the Canadian Armed Forces report symptoms of mental health problems.

For information about the app or to apply to become a veteran peer advocate, visit TheBurnsWay.ca.

— With files from the Canadian Press

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