Project Summary

The #NotToday project aimed to develop a mobile app designed to support individuals experiencing chronic suicidal thoughts and ideation. Focused on preventing the escalation from thought to action, the app serves as a daily reminder that such mental states are temporary and do not define the user.

App Highlights

• Goal: Help users manage chronic suicidal thoughts, reminding them that these feelings are not endless and have diminished in the past.
• Functionality: Users create a personal repository of life-affirming content—words, thoughts, images, and videos—accessible during difficult times.
• Safety Features:
  • Suicidal Safety Plan: A plan that outlines steps users can take when experiencing heightened risk, including the option to contact the Suicide Prevention Hotline instead of personal contacts, ensuring privacy and confidentiality.
  • Daily Reminders: Automated notifications prompt users to engage with their positive content, especially during vulnerable periods.

The app prioritizes user privacy by allowing the storage of personal content without the need to upload it to social media platforms like Pinterest or similar services, where users risk exposure and loss of confidentiality. This focus ensures that individuals can express their thoughts freely, without fear of being “outed” in crisis situations.

Case Study Outline

1. Background:
   • Chronic suicidal thoughts affect 4.3% of the adult population globally, translating to 14 million individuals. The prevalence is even higher among younger adults, with 10.5% of those aged 18-25 affected (National Institute of Mental Health).
2. Underlying Issues:
   • Chronic suicidal ideation is often linked to trauma, leading to conditions such as PTSD and Complex PTSD, which can cause dissociation, impairing identity and continuity in thoughts.
3. Market Landscape:
   • Existing apps include:
     • Virtual Hope Box: Criticized for a narrow focus on social connections, potentially isolating users.
     • MY3: Medicalized approach with excessive features, risking analysis paralysis and detracting from user engagement.
4. Project Execution:
   • Collaborated with a UCLA CAPS expert to ensure clinical sensitivity and ethical integrity.
   • Directed cross-functional teams to create wireframes and initial designs that aligned therapeutic goals with user needs.
5. Technical Considerations:
   • Stretch Goal: Integrate a feature that allows for more frequent or immediate reminders via social media, tailored for users who may face triggers like apathy and dissociation, ensuring the app remains a proactive support tool.

Illustrations done by Cole Moss

Conclusion

The development of the #NotToday app was halted at the wireframing stage following the emergence of a similar app in the market, highlighting the competitive nature of mental health technology solutions. This decision underscores the importance of timing and market validation in product development, while maintaining a commitment to user privacy and mental well-being.

HackForLA: https://www.hackforla.org/projects/not-today.html