Frequently Asked Questions
The Life Nav App is specifically designed to help people through situations that are known to be mentally challenging. If you do not find the answer to your question in the guide below please get in touch with us.
General Questions
Q. What are the Checkpoints over the 100 days?
100 days is an established transition timeframe that people are familiar with. The regular checkpoints cover: an initial checkpoint reflecting on the participants past, plus checkpoints 8 days apart focused on the now, then a final checkpoint focused on the future.
Q. What are the Checkpoint questions?
The checkpoint questions are based on the well-researched and highly respected Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale, with minor alterations to focus on timeframes and enable trusted others to answer on behalf of the participants.
Q. Why is use of the Life Nav App activated by an organiser?
The Life Nav App is activated by the organiser because the organiser has the most experience with the challenge ahead and when it is the best time to activate the 100 days. For example, with planned events like team selection, the Life Nav App is often activated early. Then there are other challenges, such as rehab that might be new/unplanned to the individual and routine for the organiser. Also, by activating a cohort of Life Nav participants the organiser gets valuable insights (without having access to individual results). This can help them determine when their program is the most mentally challenging so that they can make appropriate adjustments.
Q. Who can see the Checkpoint results?
Life Nav takes data privacy very seriously. We also know that responses provided anonymously are more accurate. Only the participants can see their individual results. The responses from their trusted others are de-identified, combined and presented to the participant as measure of consistency. Similarly, the organiser can only see de-identified and combined data for the cohort, designed to help them to see peak periods of risk, enabling the organiser to incorporate this into their program design.
Participant Questions
Q. Why does it go for 100 days?
100 days is an established transition timeframe that people are familiar with.
Q. Who should I pick as my trusted others?
Choose people that you trust. They can be family, friends, teammates. or mentors. Ideally people that know and respect you, that can also be contacted during the 100 days.
Q. What if they say ‘no’?
This is a common fear of participants, but it rarely happens. When it does, it is usually because the other person is in a situation where they are unlikely to be able to participate fully during the nominated time period. For example they might be uncontactable for a period of time. So, if this does happen, don’t worry, just pick someone else.
Q. What if I don’t have three trusted others?
Choose as many people as you can, Life Nav will still work, however you will have less data to review as we can only share the responses from trusted others when we are able to de-identify it. The organiser will also be made aware that you have less support available to you and may make other arrangements to help support you outside of Life Nav.
Trusted Others Questions
Q. Why did they pick me?
Because you are one of three of their family, friends, teammates, or mentors that they respect and hope you will be willing to do regular checkpoints across 100 days. These checkpoints will mean that they are better placed to deal with a period in their lives which is known to be mentally challenging.
Q. What do I have to do?
Spare 5 minutes every 8 days to answer multiple choice questions about your friend/teammate/family member and provide a short message of support. It is also recommended that you touch base with them between checkpoints so that you know how to answer the questions.
Q. Will it make a difference?
Research has shown that a message or conversation from a trusted other makes a huge difference to an individual’s mental health and can even save a life. Everyone is qualified to be a good mate.
Q. What skills do I need?
Everyone is qualified to be a good mate. Understand that they are going through a challenging time, be supportive. If they need more help than you can give, Life Nav provides a list of organisations that can help.
Organiser Questions
Q. When should I activate the program for participants?
The short answer is whenever you think it should start to ensure it covers their period of challenge. We know from boarding schools, that the first 100 days are important, the first 7 days can be critical, and also that the lead up is important – so activating Life Nav a week ahead not only establishes a baseline for their mental health. It also ensures that the support of their trusted others is in place before they arrive.
Q. Can I get insights into sub-groups within my cohort?
Yes, but only once there are enough participants in a sub-group or cohort for the collated data to be de-identified. For example, we know that sports people that don’t get selected for sports teams have a higher probability of poor mental health outcomes, so it can be important to create a sub-group for them. All sub-groups are based on tags, you can allocate multiple tags to individuals.
Q. Can I see which individuals need more support?
Life Nav does not share data on individuals. However, we do alert organisers to individuals that are not being supported by trusted others, either because they have not nominated them or because they are not completing checkpoints. This is intended to enable you to provide alternative support options for these individuals that are lacking support elsewhere.