MindfulU - Mental Health App
MindfulU - Mental Health App
Runner Up Vitality Track
Role
Developer & Designer
Project Duration
24 Hours
Team
Leonille
Ethan
Project Overview
Improving mental health through a mobile application that provides users with a variety of tools to help them manage their mental health. The app includes features such as a mood tracker, journaling, and guided meditation.
What is mindfulU?
MindfulU came about as a solution to the growing mental health crisis, specifically in the college student population. The app is designed to provide students with a variety of tools to help them manage their mental health. Our project was inspired by the idea that mental health is just as important as physical health, and that it should be treated as such. We drew inspiration from other mental health apps, such as Headspace and Calm, and sought to create an app that was both user-friendly and effective. We then conceptualized and designed the app, and created a prototype using Figma for the Dubhacks 2023 Hackathon, where we were awarded the Runner Up Vitality Track.
Problem
Lack of help for college students
We found that there was a lack of resources available to college students who were struggling with their mental health. Many students were unaware of the resources that were available to them, and those who were aware often found that the resources were not helpful. We also found that many students were hesitant to seek help due to the stigma surrounding mental health.
Solution
Stress management
Our solution was to combine a variety of tools into a single app that would help students manage their mental health. These including daily mood tracking, as well as journaling and guided meditation exercises that are tailored to the user's needs. Lastly, we wanted to create an application that was easy to use and accessible to all students, regardless of their level of experience with mental health apps.
Creation
Our thought process began with nailing down key functional requirements that we wanted to include in the app. We then created a wireframe of the app, which we used to create a prototype using Figma. We then used React Native to create the app itself, and tested it to ensure that it was user-friendly and effective. We opted for a simple clean design, and wanted welcome colors, and decided to go with a mixture of blues, whites, and greys to create a calming effect.
Setbacks
Our biggest setback was the time contstraint as well as our team size. We had to work quickly to create a prototype that was both user-friendly and effective, and we had to do so with a team of only two people. Unfortunately, we were unable to implement all of the features that we wanted to include in the app, but we were able to create a prototype that we were proud of. Also, we had little experience with React Native, as I myself have only worked with Web Development, so there was a learning curve that we had to overcome.
Outcomes
Despite the setbacks, we were able to create a prototype that we were proud of. We were able to create an app that was both user-friendly and effective, and that we believe has the potential to help many students manage their mental health.
Final Screen
Onboarding
For onboarding, we decided to keep it simple and clean. It begins with a User either Logging in or Signing up. Then the User goes through a series of questions to help the app tailor the experience to the User. These includes listing some self-care activities, and then setting their current mood
Main Application
The main application includes a mood tracker, reflection journal, as well as daily self-care activites that the user listed to do. Journey tracks how many times they've done the activity, and their daily mood. Includes Focus of the Day which are different guided meditations that the user can do.
Conclusion
Somethings I've learned were working under a big time constraint, for it being my second hackathon with a team of two, and having to learn how we can implement the features we wanted to include in the app.
Moving Forward
Moving forward, I'd love to further flesh out the mood tracker from once a day to multiple times a day, as well as implementing features for notifying users to do their daily self-care habits.