Our Mission
Develop a social support platform that removes barriers in access to mental health services and leverages the power of data, peers, and community to help people overcome mental health conditions.
Overview
To address the mental health crisis in the United States our team adopted a design thinking approach to better understand the barriers to accessing more viable forms of care. Among other things, we learned that young people are leading the way to a mental health care future marked by the peer-to-peer health experience and inventive uses of digital platforms. Our research engages a fundamental question: how do we design more compelling telehealth experiences for humans?
Background
The State of Mental Health in the U.S
Mental illness is a widespread condition that impacts a cross-section of the population. According to the National Institute for Mental Health, 18% of adults experienced a mental illness in 2017 such as anxiety or depression. Mental illness is much more prevalent among women (22%) than men (15%). Young adults (age 18-25) are more likely than older adults (age 50+) to experience a mental illness, 26% to 14%. Whereas 20.4 percent of Whites experience mental illness, 28.6 of persons who identify with two or more races experience mental illness. In 2017, the prevalence of mental illness among American Indians was 19%, 16% percent for Blacks, and 15 percent for Latinx persons.
Mental Illness Starts Early in the life cycle
The onset of mental illness begins early in life. Roughly half of mental health illnesses begin by the middle teen years and three-fourths present by the middle 20s. This highlights the need for early detection and intervention, which improves the chances of reducing the severity-persistence of primary disorders or preventing or delaying the onset of secondary disorders. The lack of intervention over time can lead to a host of behavioral problems and ensuing downstream effects including poor academic performance, engagement in risky behaviors, lower income levels, and suicidality.
Suicide
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, the suicide rate in the U.S. increased 31 percent between 2001 and 2017. The suicide rate for men, 22.4 per 100,000 population, is nearly four times as high as the rate for women, 6.1 per 100,000. Suicide rates in the U.S. also vary by race and ethnicity. For example, American Indian/Alaskan Native persons suffer the highest rate of suicide, 22.3 per 100,000. Whites make up the second highest racial and ethnic group, 18.0 per 100,00. The rate among persons who identify as White Hispanic and Black is 7.35 and 7.05, respectively. Among persons ages 10-34, suicide is second only to unintentional injury as the leading cause of death. Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death for persons age 35-54.
In a study of nationally representative data from 1991-2017, researchers found that
The impact of COVID-19 on mental health
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), COVID-19 is accelerating the prevalence of adverse mental health outcomes, substance use, and suicidal ideation.
Acceleration of mental health
During January to June 2020, 33 percent of U.S. adults aged 18 and older reported symptoms of anxiety disorder and 26.9 percent had symptoms of depressive disorder, according to the CDC. During the same period in 2019, 8.2 percent of adults aged 18 and over had symptoms of anxiety disorder and 6.6 percent had symptoms of depressive disorder.
Acceleration of substance use
The CDC also found that substance use to cope with pandemic-related stress is on the rise, especially among some populations.
Acceleration of suicidal ideation
Eleven percent of persons surveyed seriously considered suicide in the previous thirty days. Among young adults (age 18-24) and African Americans that figure rose to 26% and 15%, respectively.
Problem
Barriers to Support
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than half, 57%, of adults with a mental illness did not receive mental health care in 2017. Women (48%) were more likely than men (35%) to receive mental health services. And whereas 44% of adults age 50+ received mental health services, 35% of adults age 18-25 received services. There are many barriers to accessing care including stigma, low levels of mental health literacy, and financial constraints.
Process
Research
We conducted extensive research to fully understand the mental health crisis. In addition to surveying the literature on the prevalence of mental illness, we examined specific demographic trends, telehealth, culturally relevant care, and clinical and non-clinical services. We also conducted depth-interviews with therapists, peer specialists, mental health professionals, and young users of health-based mobile apps. After designing wireframes we conducted widespread user testing with the key stakeholders noted above. The digital prototype that we created was informed by a series of co-design sessions with care-givers and care-seekers in the mental health space.
Key takeaways from persons seeking mental health services
Our research included depth-interviews, user testing, and co-design sessions with individuals who have sought out mental health services, used health-based apps, or supported a friend or family member dealing with a mental health condition. Here is a sample of what we are learning…
Key takeaways from persons offering mental health services
Our research included depth-interviews, user testing, and co-design sessions with individuals--therapists, peer specialists, and other mental health professionals--who provide mental health services. Here is a sample of what we are learning…
​Ideate
After our in-depth research, we understand deeply about the problem and the opportunities where we can work on. We conducted brainstorming sessions and iterate our ideas within the team and also with mental health professionals.
We drafted our ideas to envision potential user scenarios.
We created wireframes to visualize our ideas.
Validation & Iteration
Before moving forward to polish our design, we brought our wireframe to potential users and subject matter experts to hear their perspectives and collect feedback to discover usability issues, and more importantly, discover if the overall idea would actually help them in real life.
By testing with target users we gain invaluable feedback to improve and iterate. Apart from that, we also conducted walkthrough usability testings with organizations that provide peer specialist support. From those sessions, we further understand the perspective from peer specialists.
