BID Thesis Aug. 2017 - April 2018
Sustain your psychological wellness as you would your physical.
As children in grade school, we are regularly tested in physical fitness and encouraged to exercise or join a sports team. Among young adults, physical health is a trend and social media is flooded with the workout routines of influencers. As we get older and begin to feel the effects of age, we take extra care of our bodies in the hopes of adding a few more healthful, vigorous years to our lives. Yet, there is another part of health that goes largely ignored and is even stigmatized. This is mental health. One in six (15-20%) people worldwide have one or more mental health disorder (Our World in Data). While there are many existing treatments and management solutions, the majority choose not to seek help because of denial, self-blame, discomfort, or the fear of being judged. Others are simply unaware of or unable to access such solutions. I pursued this topic in the hopes of encouraging people to be confident in taking care of their psychological well-being. The goal of the following product system is to make mental health related services accessible and to open up the conversation on mental health allowing people to feel comfortable with themselves and in seeking the help they need.
Th Product
Circadian Window Prototype built with a 10,000 LUX Dimmable Therapy Lamp, lasercut acrylic glass, vellum print, lasercut plywood, flat copper wire, and re-purposed fabric for the speakers.
Circadian Window Prototype - Side View
SUIID Thesis Show - Dimmable Display
Oximeter Ring - Rendering
Oximeter Ring Prototype built with copper and an elastic band. Display hand molded with plaster in alginate.
SUIID Thesis Show Presentation
Initial Research
User Personas
Colors
Early Research Book
View PDF version.
Potential Problems to be Addressed
Data Collection: In the digital world, there is so much value in data. There is a whole economy for selling and buying data. However, where so much data is available there is also a higher risk of privacy intrusion. This product is built around the collection of psychological data and if not properly maintained runs the risk of being distributed in ways not approved by users.
Harmful Interactions: While this product is meant to help its users encourage one another to take care of their mental health, it also has the potential of connecting two individuals who may have negative impacts on one another and encourage self harm or even suicide. The mentorship system is meant to combat such outcome, but the risk is still there.
Mental Health Resources
CRISIS HELP
Crisis Text Line Text HELLO to 741741
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255
OK2TALK for teens and young adults
INFORMATION
Mental Health America
Anxiety and Depression Association of America (AADA)
National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI)
MentalHealth.gov
PHOTOS
Photos used from Unsplash - Photos for Everyone
Aug. 2017 - April 2018