13
example, The Lancet recently reported why employers must pay attention to isolation and
loneliness. Regarding "the workers assigned periods of perceived isolation," it highlighted that
even less than 10 days of isolation can have long-term effects, including psychiatric symptoms
up to three years later [43]. With more employees working remotely nearly half of employees in
one survey by World Economic Forum and Ipsos reported feeling isolated and lonely [44].
Workers' short-term disability claims due to mental health issues increased by 6% and the
duration increased by 12% in 2021 [45].
The next step in this journey was to develop the content for the app. This began with Dr.
Howatt writing The Cure for Loneliness in April to June 2020 that became a Globe and Mail
bestseller. Content was taken from early galley versions of this book and modified by Dr. Bill
Howatt and Territorial for the Hugr AC app. The app content includes: non-clinical assessments,
resiliency tools, cognitive behavioural approach (CBA) educational modules, and insights on
building and maintaining authentic connections.
Once the content was prepared, Territorial worked with Dr. Howatt to take the content
from the book to create a digital solution for loneliness and social isolation in the workplace. The
goal was to develop a program that facilitated the journey mapped out in The Cure for
Loneliness, designed to assist a person in addressing perceived internal barriers to building and
maintaining authentic connections.
WSPS was involved in the design and development through weekly meetings with Dr.
Howatt and Territorial over five months of development. Once developed the app was piloted
within the target population that was invited to participate in this study by WSPS and Territorial.
The Territorial team took several additional technical steps, including producing eight version
updates for ongoing improvement, meeting security standards, and getting the app approved for
