A positive messaging service is an effort by a psychiatrist from Fort McMurray to improve mental health and put a positive spin on life. Dr. Vincent Agyapong, a clinical psychiatrist, has launched Text4Mood, an innovative program being offered through the Fort McMurray Northern Lights hospital. Anybody who signs up for the service will receive 1-2 positive text messages daily in an effort to boost their mood and prevent negative patterns. According to Dr. Agyapong “It gives you something to focus on rather than continue to think in the negative. I’ve told (my patients), if you get a message, that’s me coming to your home to bring a positive message. And it’s worked, it’s quite phenomenal. There are many people who are unfortunately losing their jobs and becoming psychologically distressed. These are messages which will be very helpful for people like that.” There are 400 messages which have already been written which can be sent to those who sign up for the service. In addition the Alberta Health Services is developing this program so that it can be used for the public as well, and a clinical trial of the service is being conducted in Fort McMurray.

Over 80 people have signed up for the positive messaging service in Fort McMurray so far and many more are expected to join in the coming months as the program receives greater recognition and is more widely understood. One application for the service involves those who suffer from depression. Receiving positive texts each day could help people who are depressed feel better, and cause any depression symptoms experienced to be less severe and shorter in duration. The clinical trial is expected to determine just how effective the service may be at these goals.