Over the course of QUTs 3-day Impact Lab 2 design intensive, our team was tasked with designing for Headspace (Strathpine).
Our problem statement for this project is: 'How might we encourage young people aged 12-16 to explore healthy strategies of coping with mental health issues?'.
We were faced with three key problems:
1. The limited staffing available
2. The really long wait times for appointments (for both new and pre-existing patients)
3. The overwhelming demographic of young people aged 12-16 at the Strathpine centre
Our industry partners also mentioned that funding was an issue that needed to be taken into consideration.
We decided to conduct our own research based on lived experiences of young people in this age group. We created a short survey and gave this to our younger siblings (within the age group of 12-16) to complete. The results consolidated our initial thoughts about the gaps in the education of mental health and the negative associations that young people have about seeking help. The survey also revealed that more young people would prefer to seek help online rather than in person.
Our team decided to create an online platform as a result of our research into audience as well as the abundance of online resources that Headspace has. Through exploration of the current available Headspace online platforms, we found that allot of the content was targeted at an older group of young people, not only in layout and content but also stylistically. After exploring the pre-existing "my Home Space" platform, we were inspired to design a sub-branded extension of this service catered towards the younger demographic.
Our design, 'UrSpace', is centred around a user friendly experience particularly for younger audiences in that 12-16 year-old age bracket. Through the creation of a personalised, customisable avatar with an anonymous username, it provides users with a safe space where they can feel comfortable learning about mental health.
UrSpace is centred around connection, communication and collaboration.
The UrSpace website aims to connect young people to age-appropriate resources, that can help them learn about mental health and provide coping mechanisms, before they even need to get help from a professional.
The platform communicates helpful strategies and coping mechanisms, as well as generally educating about mental health through interactive videos, modules and games.
UrSpace provides the space for collaboration with others through chat servers and event promotions.
