HiBoop is an online platform and assessment tool designed to address Canada’s mental health crisis. It combines decades of research and scientifically-backed assessments into a single, easy-to-use interface, giving both individuals and care providers a comprehensive view of their mental health.
HiBoop aims to increase accessibility to timely mental health care by offering preliminary evaluations and forming a pathway to quicker diagnosis through measurement-based care. Our goal is to make mental health assessments available to everyone, regardless of location or financial barriers.
By equipping individuals with valuable insights and tools, HiBoop empowers Canadians to validate their mental health experiences, advocate for their care, and access resources and treatment plans faster.
Tell us about yourself?
I am a tech entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience across various industries, driven by a passion for innovation and personal connection to mental health. My curiosity has always driven me to build solutions that make a difference, but my journey into this field is deeply personal.
Living with ADHD, complex PTSD, and anxiety, I’ve experienced firsthand the challenges of navigating a mental health system that often feels out of reach. These experiences inspired me to create HiBoop. The platform is designed to bridge the gaps I encountered, making mental health care more accessible and empowering others on their journeys.
If you could go back in time a year or two, what piece of advice would you give yourself?
If I could offer one piece of advice, it would be to seek help and know it’s okay to ask for support. You don’t have to face mental health challenges alone. Receiving my diagnosis was a pivotal moment for me. It brought clarity and set me on the path to treatment. Without it, I wouldn’t have known the next steps to take.
Access to tools and resources like therapy has transformed how I manage daily life, and I only wish I’d discovered them sooner. Platforms like HiBoop make getting the support and diagnoses people need easier. Mental health is complex, but you’re never alone in your journey.
What problem does your business solve?
HiBoop was created to address the challenges of navigating mental health care, which often leaves individuals waiting years for a proper diagnosis and treatment. In British Columbia, a standard family doctor’s visit is 10 minutes, and with many assessment tools spanning hundreds of questions, this can significantly delay the diagnostic process. Coupled with the family doctor shortage crisis across Canada, getting answers can be incredibly challenging. Globally, there continues to be a physician shortage, with 6.4 million doctors still needed to meet universal healthcare goals. With shrinking numbers and growing mental health concerns worldwide, HiBoop fulfills a universal need for increased access to care.
HiBoop bridges the gap by expediting the evaluation process for individuals and providers. This allows people to validate their experiences, take meaningful steps toward treatment, and access the support needed to manage their mental health and daily lives.
What is the inspiration behind your business?
Growing up, I always knew I was different, but I never fully understood why. A few years ago, I decided to take my mental health into my own hands and went to a specialized treatment facility, searching for answers. When I finally received my diagnosis, it was a deeply validating moment. Understanding what I experienced gave me clarity.
With that knowledge, I could better identify triggers in my environment and equip myself with the tools to navigate my symptoms and live with more awareness. While effective, it was an incredibly costly and largely inaccessible way to get answers about my mental health. It was for this reason that I was inspired to create a solution that would help everyone gain insight into their mental health journey and receive access to the care they need.
What is your magic sauce?
HiBoop’s magic sauce is its heart. Behind the technology is a group of people deeply connected to the cause. Mental health is personal to every member of the HiBoop team. Having faced the challenges of navigating the mental health system ourselves, we truly understand the frustrations and gaps that so many encounter. This shared experience fuels our mission to create a solution that helps people and empowers them to advocate for timely care.
What is the plan for the next 5 years? What do you want to achieve?
Over the next five years, our goal is to establish HiBoop as a global leader in mental health assessment technology. Mental health challenges are a worldwide issue, and we are developing a platform aligned with global assessment models to provide clinics and individuals everywhere with timely care.
We are also exploring partnerships with healthcare systems and telehealth providers to expand access to a broader audience. Our ultimate aim is to make mental health assessments universally accessible, regardless of location or financial barriers.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced so far?
One of the most significant challenges we have faced at HiBoop is navigating the complex landscape of healthcare regulations, including compliance with stringent standards for data security and patient privacy. While these requirements are essential for safeguarding sensitive health information, they present a high barrier for any new company in the sector.
However, these challenges come with a silver lining. The standards are already well-established, providing a clear framework to build upon rather than requiring later adjustments to meet evolving regulations. By integrating these requirements from the outset, we are laying a strong and scalable foundation for long-term success.
Another challenge has been balancing the urgency of the mental health crisis with the necessity of creating a carefully validated product. Our team is driven by the desire to help as many people as quickly as possible. Yet, we recognize that lasting impact depends on setting a solid foundation through clinical validation and provider partnerships. This measured approach ensures the platform will be ready to deliver sustainable and effective support for both clinicians and individuals in the years to come.
How can people get involved?
We are currently in the pilot stage of our company and have just launched our partnership with The Healing Institute. At this stage, we are eager to work with more clinics to put the platform into practice in real-life scenarios, testing the functionality and identifying gaps before we expand to the public. Clinicians interested in working together can connect with us at www.hiboop.com.