User centered design of a mental health app for college students
Disciplines
Human Factors Psychology
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Mental health concerns are an increasingly unmet need among college students. Barriers such as high costs and social stigma often prevent students from accessing well-being support. Digital mental health interventions offer a promising approach to connecting students with mental health resources and enhancing their overall well-being. However, existing mental health applications often lack accessibility, are hidden behind paywalls, or offer limited engagement, which restricts students’ ability to access consistent and meaningful support. We conducted a qualitative study to explore the mental health support needs of college students, informing the design of a mobile mental health application that is usable, engaging, and effectively supports students in strengthening their mental health and well-being. Using a participatory design approach, focus groups and co-design workshops were conducted with 26 college students in Spring and Fall 2025. Students shared their perceptions of existing mobile mental health applications and sketched mobile app templates, visually outlining the features and layouts they would find most helpful for managing their well-being. Analysis of the workshops and discussions revealed four design needs: (1) Customization of the app’s content and layout for enhanced engagement. (2) Consolidation of student wellbeing resources on campus, for quick and easy access. (3) Facilitate Community building with updates on campus events and clubs. (4) Tracking personal well-being through features such as a mood tracker and journaling. Our next step is to translate these findings into mockups and conduct iterative tests with students and stakeholders to collect early feedback. College students' perceptions of an ideal mental health tool are shaped by their individual experiences with social and academic pressure in a university environment. Mental health applications for college students may need to connect self-help features and university wellbeing resources into one place to help them cope with isolation and feel a greater sense of belonging on campus.
Use of AI Disclaimer
no
Academic department under which the project should be listed
RCHSS – Technical Communication & Interactive Design
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Kanu Priya Singh
User centered design of a mental health app for college students
Mental health concerns are an increasingly unmet need among college students. Barriers such as high costs and social stigma often prevent students from accessing well-being support. Digital mental health interventions offer a promising approach to connecting students with mental health resources and enhancing their overall well-being. However, existing mental health applications often lack accessibility, are hidden behind paywalls, or offer limited engagement, which restricts students’ ability to access consistent and meaningful support. We conducted a qualitative study to explore the mental health support needs of college students, informing the design of a mobile mental health application that is usable, engaging, and effectively supports students in strengthening their mental health and well-being. Using a participatory design approach, focus groups and co-design workshops were conducted with 26 college students in Spring and Fall 2025. Students shared their perceptions of existing mobile mental health applications and sketched mobile app templates, visually outlining the features and layouts they would find most helpful for managing their well-being. Analysis of the workshops and discussions revealed four design needs: (1) Customization of the app’s content and layout for enhanced engagement. (2) Consolidation of student wellbeing resources on campus, for quick and easy access. (3) Facilitate Community building with updates on campus events and clubs. (4) Tracking personal well-being through features such as a mood tracker and journaling. Our next step is to translate these findings into mockups and conduct iterative tests with students and stakeholders to collect early feedback. College students' perceptions of an ideal mental health tool are shaped by their individual experiences with social and academic pressure in a university environment. Mental health applications for college students may need to connect self-help features and university wellbeing resources into one place to help them cope with isolation and feel a greater sense of belonging on campus.