My Well / Tooku Oranga

My Well / Tooku Oranga was created from a personal experience I had with my son. On the 26th of November 2018, my son in his unwellness almost ended his life. As a mother of five beautiful children I had to firstly, support my son on his journey of wellness and secondly, ask myself how I could have known, how I could have been more present in his life so he would have been able to share his sadness with me or be able to reach out to someone he trusted to share how he was feeling.

I have created an App which I hope will become a tool for people like my son to use when they are in a space of 'Unwellness'.

'My Well', translated as 'Tooku Oranga' in Māori, is an app that can be downloaded by the person who experiences 'unwellness', that will become a tool the user uses to 'reach out for help and support'. Initially the App will have to be downloaded so having access to the internet or data is required. After the App has been downloaded, the user will be able to access it without data or internet access.

I have kept the App simple and accessible with the idea that a person experiencing 'Unwellness', is able to access the App without too much thinking or trouble.

The App has two stages, the front page where the logo is displayed and a list of Health and Wellbeing services that can be accessed by their phone numbers. The user will be able to select five contacts from their phone list who will be sent a message that the user is in a state of 'unwellness' after the App's 'My Well', button is pushed. This will then send the user to a second screen where the 'Send' button is pushed. An automatic message will be sent to the recipients, that the user has nominated them as a person they have shared their 'unwellness', with.

It will then be up to the recipient/receiving person to contact the person who has activated the 'My Well / Tooku Oranga', button to check and support them. I would hope that the recipient would text or phone or visit the person who has activated their 'My Well / Tooku Oranga', button.

In a nutshell, the 'My Well / Tooku Oranga', App connects 'Unwell people', to their chosen person/person's so that they are able to use as a 'Reach out for help', tool in the most simplest way possible.

As a mother, wife, daughter, sister, aunty, friend and work acquaintance, I have created a tool that I hope will help people in their 'Unwellness'.

I would like to acknowledge the many people who have contributed to the 'My Well / Tooku Oranga', App, with my journey towards keeping people connected.

Mauri Ora (Be Well)