As part of University Health Services struggling to meet demand for services, we undertook a project that aimed to develop a solution that addresses mental health awareness on campus and beyond.

Mahina Simpson (UX researcher, UX designer)

Natalie Cesarz (UX researcher, UX designer)

Brooke Gerhartz (UX researcher, UX designer)

17 Weeks, Fall 2022

How might we create a safe environment (virtual or physical) where students don’t feel stigmatized and can open up so they can improve their state of mind?

1. Make an accessible resource for all students.

2. Encourage students to prioritize their mental health individually and open up to others.

3. Reduce the stigma around mental health by creating a welcoming community.

Assess your mood with the built in heart rate monitor and play the corresponding playlist

Randomly recites words of affirmation

Lead you through guided meditations

Notifies you with daily journal prompts so can track your progress

Creates playlists tailored to you and your mood

Gives rewards for continued progress

Allows you to share progress with friends

Recommends other ways in which you can improve your mental health

​To narrow down our research topic, we initiated a survey to gather information about mental health problems for college students in terms of achievement, graduation, and careers. We sent out a survey to the students of UW-Madison and received 100 responses. The results of the survey allowed us to target specific issues related to mental health. For instance, we found that necessary help from university health services was not provided for everyday struggles. 

"Assuming you can get in contact with a mental health professional on campus, I think it would be a safe space for students to open up"

​

"I have been to a therapist on campus and I felt fine opening up, I just didn't necessarily feel like my words were being reciprocated/given necessary help"

​

​"I feel like the people who are the face of the services that you actually talk to are very welcoming and understanding"

1. Stigma: Feeling insecure and embarrassed to admit that you need help or are struggling with mental health

2. Perception: There is not enough advocacy and awareness to bring comfortability when people want to speak about their well-being

3.Change: Redefining what mental health means because we automatically think of mental illness and may judge

​We interviewed four people. They were two college students who were of the age 19-20-years-old, a social worker in her 20s, and a 24-year-old working. 

We created a persona based on our interviews. This type of person represents people who are struggling with his mental health and the stigma of reaching out. We believe his mental health services vary depending on how safe they feel in their environment. 

We brainstormed ideas of a solution for lack of mental health awareness and access. Our team narrowed down our products to four ideas. 

App is focused on mental health map, that rewards you where you get to a certain milestone

Goal is to keep student engaged, it is something easy they can do each day that does not take up too much time, reward system is to encourage the student to work on their mental health each day to reach the milestones and get the rewards

Sends encouraging messages each day to boots students mood

Presents journal prompts/activities for student to complete each day

Also allows you to log other ways you have improved your mental health to receive points

Pods are designed to act like a therapist for the student

Student can choose their own environment/place to make it less stressful

Pod keeps track of appointments and helps track your progress

Headphones that create a virtual environment where students can access therapist advice

Can sense the mood you are in and pay corresponding music to uplift mood

Words of affirmations daily

Symbol that can be used on merchandise or even just as sticker/badge; a symbol from a mental health campaign on campus

Recognizable symbol that allows people to see who else around them is also struggling with mental health

Promotes normalizing mental health on campus

Can be associated with social media sites that discuss mental health issues

​Thank you to my team for believing in me and supporting me through the process. I learned to collaborate with my teammates and hand off final deliverables. Challenging myself to brainstorm a lot of ideas, present them to a team, and test them with users has been beneficial. I was happy to see the final product tested by users and gaining positive feedback. In order to advance the product I would in the future test it with a wider range of users for improvements.