About the client!
The client is a large government-funded university in the US with a mental health division specializing in therapies for the LGBTQ community. The mental health division of the university has been providing a range of services and programs to support the mental health and wellbeing of its students, staff, and the wider community. The university is committed to ongoing research in the field of mental health, and the division has been actively involved in various research projects over the years.
The challenge
The university’s mental health division recognized the need to develop an application that would help capture real-world data while providing a support structure for users dealing with mental health problems. The challenge was to create an app that would be easy to use, engaging, and effective in supporting users’ mental health and wellbeing.
The solution
The solution developed in partnership with the mental health division of the university was a mobile application with many features designed to help users come together, form communities, and support groups. The app encourages users to log “Mood” data and make short diary entries periodically. Users can also connect with other users through the app and join support groups based on shared interests or experiences.
The app collects user data, including mood data, diary entries, and other user-generated content. This data is then captured and combined with other user data collected through the app into a structured format and transferred to the data lake for future data analysis, machine learning, and behavior modeling. The app is currently not open to the public and is being used by volunteers who have signed up for the University’s Mental Health Program.
1. Dashboard
- All the features of the app can be accessed from the dashboard.
- Positive reinforcement for completing tasks on the app. This includes showing points earned for mood logging, completing surveys and attending events with can be redeemed for gifts and services. Also includes an inspirational quote of the day.
- Broadcasted announcements are sent to all users. These are initiated by the admin and can include important information and announcements
- Access to the Mood Logger
- A question of the day. Answer it to earn points.
- Browse and create events.
- Fill surveys to earn points.
2. Mood Logging:
The user is encouraged to log their mood regularly. This is incentivized by a fun animated mood slide that is a joy to use, combined with reminders and points earned for every mood log.
3. Surveys:
Surveys are another important data gathering tool and the user is incentivized to complete all surveys on the app.
Result
The mobile application has been successful in supporting users’ mental health and wellbeing, and it has also helped the university’s mental health division capture real-world data. The data collected through the app has been used to identify trends and patterns in users’ mental health and wellbeing, which has informed ongoing research in the field of mental health.
The app has also been successful in fostering a sense of community among users, helping them connect with others who share their experiences and challenges. Support groups created through the app have been particularly effective in providing users with a safe space to discuss their mental health and receive support from others.
Overall, the mobile application has been a valuable tool in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of users while providing the university’s mental health division with valuable real-world data for ongoing research.
Tech stack
The mobile application is built on native technologies due to security and reliability concerns.