Bloom (NI)

School: Nil

Despite the increase in mental health awareness in the world, mental health care is not accessible to people who need it. According to mentalhealth.org.uk, young people aged 16-24 are found to be less likely to receive mental health care than any other age group. This is particularly concerning as one in four young people suffer from mental illness.

Limited access to mental health care (the cost, lack of information, availability of professionals), the stigma with receiving mental health care and privacy concerns are major barriers among young people in seeking proper mental health care.

With this in mind, I created Bloom, a mental wellness web application that provides resources to guide young people towards mental wellness. Its core features include:

A journal with prompts to guide users on journaling.

Mental health assessments from reputable sources.

A forum to receive mental health support anonymously. Responses on the forum from mental health professionals show with a verified tag.

A to-do and habit tracker.

A mental wellness chatbot for personalized tips and advice for mental wellness.

Mental wellness guides and contents including a simulation quiz that tasks users’ coping strategy in stressful situations.

Keeping in mind young people with limited access to internet connectivity, the web application would be designed to work offline (after first time visit) and offer offline resources.

The web application would also comply with HIPAA laws for health apps to ensure the privacy and security of users’ sensitive data. Additionally, religious and cultural contexts have been used in developing Bloom. For example, someone who is a Christian could access bible verses that support the need for mental health care.

By targeting the youth, Bloom aims to address mental health issues at a crucial developmental stage. Bloom demo: https://cutt.ly/hwbhmnlZ