emo hub
A daily emotional diary app for self-reflection, mood insights, and anonymous support with guidance from social workers.
Timeline
Sept 2023 - Nov 2023
Context
Co-Operation Project with PolyU and HKCSS
Team
Derek Leung
Sarah Cheung
Responsibilities
User Research
Prototyping
User Experience Design
Tools
Figma
Miro
Project Overview
In 2023, I had a Co-Operation Project Course that was collaborated with PolyU Design Interactive Media Students and The Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS).
The Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS) is a council coordinating NGOs in the social service field in Hong Kong specialize helping students, ethnic minorities, elderly, etc. In this Co-Op Project, we were tasked by HKCSS to design concepts and solutions to cater HKDSE students on reducing stigmatization when going for counseling services during the DSE period.
The Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS) is a council coordinating NGOs in the social service field in Hong Kong specialize helping students, ethnic minorities, elderly, etc. In this Co-Op Project, we were tasked by HKCSS to design concepts and solutions to cater HKDSE students on reducing stigmatization when going for counseling services during the DSE period.
What is HKDSE? 💡
The Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) is a standardized public examination that students in Hong Kong take at the end of high school. It’s an important milestone that helps decide their next steps, serves as a gateway for higher education and career opportunities.
My contribution
I played a pivotal role in the project by doing user research and conducting in-depth interviews to gather valuable insights. My primary contribution was designing the emotional diary app.
In Hong Kong, HKDSE has been traditional public exam for secondary students.
Causing Students face stress from academic pressure, peers & expectations
Especially during study period and post-DSE
However, students wants to share their feelings, seek help from professional
But... Fear holds them back - seen as weak, being judged
Leading students to experience stigma
Problem
Mental Health Stigma Hinders HKDSE Students from Seeking Professional Help
.jpg)
Photo Source: The Standard
51.9%
of 3,669 secondary school students interviewed had shown emotional symptoms of depression.
48.6%
of 3,669 secondary school students interviewed had shown emotional symptoms of depression.
The statistics shows that the students are facing with bad mental health.
*According to a recent survey by the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (HKFYG, 2021)
Due to misconceptions about DSE students experiencing mental health issues during their study term, they wish to consult psychologists for mental health assistance. However, a likely psychiatric disease affects roughly 17% of youths between the ages of 15 and 24. Due to stigma, the usage of psychological or psychiatric services is extremely low.
However, because of high demand, finding a psychologist during the DSE research period may result in long waits.
However, because of high demand, finding a psychologist during the DSE research period may result in long waits.
Challenge
How might we help HKDSE takers who face stigma, preventing them from seeking mental health support from professional counselors?
Goals
- Improve social acceptance of mental health needs
- Create a help-seeking journey
- Raise awareness
Solution
From Stigma to Support: Allowing them to feel comfortable to seek help with the mobile app
%20(1).jpg)
.jpg)
Emotional Diary App encourages students to record their thoughts and emotions daily, allowing for tracking of their emotional flow and providing suggestions for those in need. It also serves as a community platform for anonymous sharing and support, with professionals includes social workers, counsellors, etc. that are actively participating.
Personal Diary and Mood tracker
Students can write down their feelings and thoughts of the diary and track emotional flow.
Communities
Anonymous sharing and support are provided by students and social workers. Students share their own experiences and expect to hear positive messages to stay encouraged for their DSE. Social workers are also available to offer help or advice if needed.
Safe and Secure Platform
Keeping anonymous & students can have the choice to share their stories to notice board/promotional material**
**Promotional board is for the campaign, to have a consent for the HKDSE Students to share the experience in the public notice board.
Key Feature
What if tracking your mood could guide you to the right support?
Mood Tracker is the most important feature in the app as it tracks the student emotional flow by writing down their feelings and thoughts in the diary.
Its primary purpose is to motivate students to seek assistance from social workers or counselors when they experience discomfort throughout HKDSE students period.
Its primary purpose is to motivate students to seek assistance from social workers or counselors when they experience discomfort throughout HKDSE students period.
Usually, this is the normal process of the diary.
But what happens if the user selects the sad emotion?
But what happens if the user selects the sad emotion?
When students record a sad emotion in their diary for consecutive days, the background darkens. Showing their emotions are not good, which is gets worsen each time. But the main point is to seek help. But HOW can they seek for help?
Student repeatedly has negative emotions, the app will encourage them to seek out for an assistance due to the bad emotions they shown in the diary.
How did we get there?
Research
What was the causes of stigma of HKDSE students
Photo Source: BBC
In our research, we have used first-hand research to understand the issue deeply.
We chose to focus on HKDSE students as the target audience, so in order to obtain first-hand information as the second-hand information available online was insufficient to support the design and the research.
We decided to do surveys and interview to understand HKDSE takers and public views on During-DSE/post-DSE.
What my team did was:
We chose to focus on HKDSE students as the target audience, so in order to obtain first-hand information as the second-hand information available online was insufficient to support the design and the research.
We decided to do surveys and interview to understand HKDSE takers and public views on During-DSE/post-DSE.
What my team did was:
80+ Respondent on Survey
- General Public
- Pre/Post DSE takers within 3 years
The survey was aimed at understanding how the general public feels about mental health issues and DSE taker’s stress level.
8 Post-DSE Student Interviewees
- Post-DSE takers within 3 years
- Related Stakeholders
The interview was aimed to understand the journey of a DSE taker, what things that would stress them, and how they comfort themselves during those DSE period.
For the interview process, we selected eight individuals who completed their DSE within the past three years, as they still retain fresh memories of the experience, along with relevant stakeholders who may be involved in this topic.
5 University Students
2 Social Work Students
1 Primary School Teacher
*The survey was aimed at understanding how the general public feels about mental health issues and DSE taker’s stress level.
After conducting the survey and interview, found that the majority of the students get self/parents expectation and peer competition as their main source of stress. It was given that anxiety, depression, and mania were the common emotions being found.
Findings
There were misunderstanding
After conducting the interviews with the post-DSE interviewees based on their DSE experience. We have found the key findings that may limit their knowledge about mental support and help resources.
However, there are misunderstandings that can be found in the survey results. 🤔
However, there are misunderstandings that can be found in the survey results. 🤔
We discovered the following reasons for respondents' mental health issues based on the survey results: Nearly one-third of them said they lacked resilience, while more than half said they lacked mental strength. While 70% of respondents believe that mental health is associated with violence. It demonstrates how mental health issues are stigmatized.
There are over 70% of people who would be willing to seek help when they are under pressure from stress or having negative emotions. But 10% of people have searched for social services before. Thus this shows that most people lack motivation to seek help.
Finally, some people are unfamiliar with mental health services, and there aren't enough promotions. As a result, this level of exposure to mental health information is insufficient.
Findings
Key Findings that defines the picture of the stigmazation
After conducting the interviews with the post-DSE interviewees based on their DSE experience. We have found the key findings that may limit their knowledge about mental support and help resources.
Students think they are lack of mental health support
The school neglects mental health support, focusing more on academics, while social workers remain inactive in supporting students.
Student lack of understanding of the counseling resource
Students struggle to access these services due to inexperience, while poor promotion on campus limits awareness and understanding of counseling resources.
The reason students didn't have consultation experience
Students worry their privacy won’t be respected, and also find the booking system confusing when trying to reach a social worker.
Students would like to receive guidance but hesitated to seek assistance
Many are open to seeing social workers but hesitate due to anxiety about sharing their stories or making in-person appointments. They prefer online booking and worry about oversharing or mistrusting social workers and teachers.
Students want to hear more positive affirmative message
Students have high expectations placed by their parents or peers and receive negative feedback from them, it can greatly impact their mental state and motivation. However, when receiving positive messages and encouragement from their peers, especially those who are also striving to do their best in their DSE, can provide them with a much-needed boost and support.
After the brainstorming session from the key findings (survey, interviews) that my team conducted, we identified important findings that may lead to a solutions for our problem
Design Ideation
Design Solutions
After we did brainstorming, we decided to create a design solutions for the project. We decided to have deliverables to accomplish our goals which was Promotional Materials, IG Campaign and Emo Hub App. (The materials and campaign examples are in the next part)
The three deliverables were created to solve the issues based from the key findings.
Emo Hub
Why we decided to create an app? Given the prevalent use of smartphones among students for social media and gaming, we aimed to create an app that is easily accessible on their phone. And "Student would like to receive guidance but hesitated to seek assistance" We want to make it convenient for them to seek assistance.
This app is for those who want to record their feelings daily, strengthen the relationship between the counselor and as well to seek help
This app is for those who want to record their feelings daily, strengthen the relationship between the counselor and as well to seek help
Ver 1 (Hi-Fi Wireframe)
Before developing the app, we carefully selected colors that would best suit the project and the app's purpose.
We opted for calm colors.
We opted for calm colors.
Created the basic of normal diary app process with emotions mascot, and the sharing to the promotional material first before thinking what the next process would be and how can it be cater for the students with the visual and the goals.
After we demonstrated to our mentor about the app, the mentor claimed that how can it convince people to use the app and how can it help people to use the app and visit/chat the social worker through it.
(We used the Mood Changes Feature to solve this problem, shown at the solution at the top)
(We used the Mood Changes Feature to solve this problem, shown at the solution at the top)
Ver 2 (Final)
Revamped the entire app, we wanted to make it "cute emotions" to appeal to the students.
Mood Emotions Changes
Students are allowed to have the option to chat with the social worker if they reached the part where they need to be assisted.
Emotions
IG Campaign
First of all, the IG campaign. Based on the key findings, students think they lack mental health support, lack understanding of the counseling resource, and hear more positive messages.
The IG Campaign is about illustrations to tell stories about mental health issues. which represents the importance of mental health care for the DSE students. Moreover, the social media campaign features anonymous diaries from Emo Hub users. The app diaries can turn their experiences into relatable stories.
The IG Campaign is about illustrations to tell stories about mental health issues. which represents the importance of mental health care for the DSE students. Moreover, the social media campaign features anonymous diaries from Emo Hub users. The app diaries can turn their experiences into relatable stories.
*Credit goes to Sarah for the illustrations.
We wanted to draw upon the stories of different students to portray their inner thoughts and feelings and provide solutions and consolation through the message portrayed in the IG post. Thus, this can raise public awareness and understanding about the stress faced by DSE students. The more exposure this brings, it can reduce the stigma for the DSE students, as they may relate to it.
Promotional Materials
Based on our findings, we discovered that students are not well-acquainted with mental health concepts. To address this, we plan to use posters and leaflets to raise awareness about mental health.
Additionially, we aim to feature stories from Emo Hub users to emphasize the importance of seeking help when necessary. As with the IG campaign, the promotional materials can share Emo Hub stories from student users to attract people to use the app.
Additionially, we aim to feature stories from Emo Hub users to emphasize the importance of seeking help when necessary. As with the IG campaign, the promotional materials can share Emo Hub stories from student users to attract people to use the app.
*Credit goes to Sarah for the illustrations.
How are the solutions are connected to each other?
We wanted to establish the connections from the insights and further develop the deliverables from them. We decided to create three deliverables for this project.
The three elements are interconnected, creating a cycle that helps disseminate the campaign's message and promote the app.
In the mobile app, there is consent to share the student's diary either notice board or promotion (poster/IG) or whether they not prefer to share.
User Journey
Students grapple with concerns about their academics during their study leave.
Students are handed leaflets that discuss mental health issues and are encouraged to follow the dedicated Instagram page.
Students peruse the Instagram posts and develop an interest in the Emo Hub app.
Intrigued, students download the app and begin to express their emotions.
A social worker, noticing signs of stress in a student's shared emotions, reaches out.
The student finds an outlet to express their feelings, helping to alleviate their stress.
Did we achieve the project goals?
Improve social acceptance of mental health needs
Create a help-seeking journey
Raise Awareness
Yes, we successfully achieved the project goals by aligning our design solutions to seamlessly integrate all components.
Final Prototype
Click the emo hub logo to start navigating
Restart
Concept Video
Demonstrating the app's features and how they work in the demo scenarios.
Booth Presentation
At end of the project, we presented our solutions to HKCSS to elaborate what we did. Yes, they are pleased with the solution of what my team did for this project.
.jpg)
Reflection
This project was an eye-opening to understand the situation of the DSE students during their DSE period. As someone who experience HKDSE before, as it was stressful and gets a lot of pressure, expectation from peers to get into their desire university.
I would like to thank to Mohana Das for fantastic mentorship provided. Thank you Dominic Leung & The Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS) for having us and the Interactive Media students to have the opportunity to create the hands-on collaborative project. Also my teammates, which we grow both individually and as a team, resulting in a product we’re incredibly proud of!
I would like to thank to Mohana Das for fantastic mentorship provided. Thank you Dominic Leung & The Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS) for having us and the Interactive Media students to have the opportunity to create the hands-on collaborative project. Also my teammates, which we grow both individually and as a team, resulting in a product we’re incredibly proud of!
Thank you for taking your time to read this far!
If you are interested to see more case studies, check it out!
How can we prevent sexual harassment incidents at Hong Kong universities context, both currently and in the future?
.jpg)
.webp)
How can we have social interaction and go hiking during the midst of the pandemic while ensuring an enjoyable experience?
.jpg)