Project Timeline

9.03.19 – 5.22.20 (30 weeks)

Role

Owner of project—concept to creation.

Deliverables

Branding • Digital Product • Wearable • Proposal Video

Keywords

User Experience Design • Brand Identity + Expression • Motion Graphics • Product Design • 3D Modeling

01 Observation

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The Problem

With over 1 million Americans attempting suicide each year, it is one of the top ten leading causes of death. Despite advancements in modern medicine and psychiatry we have not been able to meaningfully reduce this number.

Currently we have no way to predict who is at risk and solutions to suicide prevention, such as the suicide hotline, are passive.

So why do we rely on those who need help the most to advocate for their own mental health?

who’s affected

Though middle-aged men experience the highest suicide rates, over 60% of individuals believe that they experience mental health conditions commonly associated with suicide—anxiety and depression.

barriers to Help

Suicide prevention relies on at-risk individuals to self-report or for those around them to realize when something is wrong. But these methods pose challenges—including individuals not knowing the right words to say, lack of knowledge around the topic, and fear of reputation impacts. Only a third of individuals feel that they can tell when someone they love is at-risk or suicidal.

identifying Touch points

Though 95% of people would do something if someone close to them was thinking about suicide, only a third of adults feel that they can tell when someone close to them is considering suicide—creating a huge gap between those who are struggling with their mental health and those most able to help them.

source: The Harris Poll, Harris Insights & Analytics LLC in partnership with AFSP.

In order to bridge the gap between those at risk and their supporters, three main touch points were identified and addressed.

physiological (the at-risk individual)

Those experiencing anxiety and depression often exhibit physiological signs and specific thought patterns when they are in a crisis.

Community (all persons affected by suicide)

Both suicidal ideation and experiencing a loss from suicide are experiences that leave those they touch to feel alone and isolated in their pain.

Accountability (Supporters)

Suicidal crisis is not an isolated incident. The act of following-up with suicidal individuals after a crisis has demonstrated the ability to meaningfully reduce reoccurring incidences.

03 Informed Solution

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An active approach to mental health: shifting the burden of asking for help off of the person who is in need. A three pronged solution which addresses the individual at risk, their loved ones, and a community of individuals with similar experiences.

The Individual

Empower at-risk individuals to understand and improve their own mental health status. Through the product they are able to employ coping strategies and track their improvement over time.

The supporters

Connect at-risk individuals with their loved ones so that everyone those who matter most are informed and involved in your mental health journey.

The Community

A community of individuals who have shared this traumatic experience provides a safe space and understanding individuals.

User Scenarios

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The interface component has three user types:

The At-Risk User

At-risk users have access to tools to help them understand and improve their mental health. If they reach a level of distress, Thea will automatically alert their support network.

The Supporter

Those invited to the system and are designated by each specific at-risk user. The supporter’s main function is to ensure that their loved one is safe. Supports receive and respond to and at-risk user’s crisis alerts.

The Volunteer

Volunteers are a second means of support. When a user’s designated support is unable to handle a crisis, it is pushed to the volunteer network.

The At-Risk user flow

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Sarah suffers from major depressive disorder (MDD). Though she sees a therapist regularly, it is difficult and daunting for Sarah to identify when and if she needs additional support.

Understanding Your Mental Health

Through the recommendation of her therapist, Sarah wears the Thea Glasses to help her manage her struggle with anxiety and depression.

The Thea Glasses utilize various biometric measures of mental health to determine Sarah’s baseline of health and will alert her support network automatically in the event of a crisis.

Mental health measured through tech

Artificial Intelligence

Voice acoustic measures of depression evaluated through microphone within the glasses’ frame.

BCI (Brain-computer Interface)

Monitoring of the user’s emotional state through neural signals from the limbic system.

Eye tracking

Research has shown that persons with major depressive disorder show significantly abnormal eye movement measures as compared to the control group.

After using the Thea Glasses for a few weeks, Sarah is able to view and share her state of mental health alongside her support network. Sarah and her therapist are able to work together to more effectively to address her MDD and how it manifests even outside of sessions.

Sarah feels overwhelmed and anxious. The Thea Glasses detect symptoms of hyperarousal associated with a sharp increase in anxiety, such as: increased heart rate and pulse, faster breathing, sudden changes in skin temperature. As she approaches a level of distress, her support network is automatically alerted.

While Sarah waits for her supporter to arrive, she is prompted to complete an interactive grounding exercise— an empirically validated coping strategy to help reconnect you to the present and bring you out of a state of panic.

The Supporter user flow

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Miranda is a longterm friend of Sarah’s who wants to help Sarah feel stable in rough moments. As Sarah is setting up her support network, she adds Miranda as a primary supporter. Miranda receives a text message notification inviting her to join the Thea network, where she can share and be a part of Sarah’s mental health journey.

Support Network

As a member of Sarah’s primary support tier, Miranda is able to see Sarah’s levels of social interaction as well as a global view of her overall mental health. Miranda can rest assured that even though she, personally, has not heard from Sarah within the last few days, that other members of Sarah’s support network have been in contact with her—giving Miranda some peace of mind.

The Volunteer user flow

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Art is an individual who has suffered a loss due to suicide. His desire to make a difference and help those struggling with mental health issues inspires him to sign up as a volunteer with Thea’s community. Art completes a training to inform him on how to handle crisis situations before he can become a verified volunteer.

Crisis Alerts

In the event of a crisis, supporters and volunteers will receive a notification. Upon accepting a crisis alert, the supporter can contact the person through call or message and view the other members of their support network, who will be alerted that the crisis has been addressed.