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Portfolio

Hemant Kumar

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Your community for mental health and well-being support.

Your supportive community app for mental health and well-being. Connect with peers, access resources, and find professional guidance. Together, let's foster understanding and growth for a happier, healthier world

Viici

Current socializing apps often promote superficial connections and addictive behaviors, harming mental health and fostering FOMO.

The Problem

  • India faces a severe mental health crisis, with 74% of the population suffering from stress and 88% experiencing anxiety.

  • Students are particularly affected, with 63.5% reporting stress due to academic pressure.

  • In the workforce, 80% have reported mental health issues in the past year.

  • Age-specific data reveals long-term stress in 45% of teenagers, 36% of children, and 36% of youth.

  • Gender disparities are significant, with 87% of women and 86% of men experiencing high levels of stress.

  • The country has less than one psychiatrist for every 100,000 people and no standardized assessment for counselors.

  • An estimated 58.4 crore individuals are affected, excluding non-working females and disabled people.

Viici

"Your daily path to inner balance."
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Viici fosters mindfulness through a supportive community while ensuring complete anonymity.
"Find peace, connect anonymously, and prioritize your mental health with Viici."

Overview

My Role

Viici is a startup focused on creating a community-based mindfulness platform, where I served as the UX designer. We conducted an in-depth analysis and identified critical issues related to triggers for anxiety, stress, depression, and other mental health challenges. This led us to develop an innovative concept for a community app aimed at addressing these issues. I was responsible for conducting thorough research at every phase of development and contributing to the app's layout, ensuring we successfully brought our vision to life.

Team
Tools
Duration

28  Weeks

  • 2 Designer

  • 2 Developers

  • Founder

  • Co-Founder

  • Figma

  • Wireframce.CC

  • Miro

  • Google Meet

  • Notion

"Our goal is to create a community-based mindfulness platform that effectively addresses mental health challenges through innovative design and user research."

Research

Mental health is a growing concern in India, despite being a traditionally neglected issue. A significant UX research effort is needed to understand the needs and challenges faced by people in India seeking mental health resources and support. This research will inform the design of user-centered solutions that can improve access to care and promote mental well-being.

    •  

Research Goal

  • Understand the perceptions and attitudes towards mental health in India.

  • Identify the barriers preventing people from seeking help for mental health concerns.

  • Explore user needs and preferences for accessing mental health resources and support.

  • Evaluate existing mental health resources and platforms in India from a user experience perspective.

62% reported experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression in the past year.

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Quantitative Data 

Source: Online Survey Distributed Across College Campuses & Professional Networks ​

​Awareness of Resources:

  • 52% were aware of different mental health services available.

  • 28% knew where to find a mental health professional in their city.

  • 18% were aware of government mental health initiatives.

​​

Impact on Daily Life:

  • 45% reported negative impact on sleep quality.

  • 32% reported difficulty concentrating due to mental health.

  • 27% reported negative impact on relationships.

38% reported experiencing moderate to severe symptoms.

20% reported having been diagnosed with a mental health condition.

37% felt comfortable discussing mental health openly in their workplace/institution.

48% had never sought professional help.

25% reported using online resources or forums for support.

Help-Seeking Behavior

Mental Health Concerns

Theme 1: Stigma and Fear of Judgment

  • Working Professional: "I wouldn't want my colleagues to know I'm struggling. It could hurt my chances of getting promoted."

  • College Student: "I'm worried about what my friends and family will think if they know I have anxiety."

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Theme 2: Limited Access to Resources and Affordability

  • College Student: "Therapy is too expensive, and I don't know where to begin." 

  • Working Professional: "There aren't many therapists available in my area, and the waitlists are long." 

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Theme 3: Need for Culturally Relevant Support and Self-Help Tools

  • College Student: "I would feel more comfortable if the information and resources were available in Hindi." 

  • Working Professional: "An app with relaxation techniques and mood tracking would be helpful for me to manage my anxiety on my own." 

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Theme 4: Importance of Online Support and Anonymity

  • College Student: "Maybe an anonymous online space where I could connect with others facing similar challenges would help." 

  • Working Professional: "The online forum helped me feel less alone and understand that others struggle with similar issues."

Qualitative Data

User Experience Framework

Activites
Envioment
Interaction
Objects
Users
Work
College
High Pressure
Limited Breaks
Home
Crowded
Lack of Privacy
Online World
Social Media Comparisons
Doctor’s Office
Smartphone
Social Media Feeds
Work Materials
School Materials
Mental Health Apps
Self-Help Tools
Meditation Apps
Negative Self-Talk
Dismissive Responses
Friends
Therapist
Family
Limited Resources
Positive Online Interactions
Online Forums
Support Groups
Yearning for Connection
Need for Control
Financial Constraints
Stigma
Lack of Awareness
Overwhelmed
Stressed
Anxious
Social Media
Procrastination
Low Motivation
Difficulty Concentrating
Online Research
Isolation

Mental Health Concerns:

  • Anxiety

  • Sleep problems

  • Difficulty concentrating due to stress

"I'm not sure if therapy is even an option for me. It's too expensive, and I don't know where to begin."

Aditi Sharma

  • Age: 22

  • Occupation: College Student (Final Year)

  • Location: Mumbai, India

  • Academic Pressure: Aditi feels immense pressure to perform well in her final year exams to secure a good job.

  • Social Media Comparisons: Constantly comparing herself to others on social media fuels her anxieties and feelings of inadequacy.

  • Limited Resources: She is hesitant to seek professional help due to the stigma surrounding mental health and the high cost of therapy.

  • Lack of Awareness: Aditi is unsure about what type of mental health support is available and how to access it.

Pain Point:

Goals and Needs:

  • Time Management Strategies: Rohan needs tools and techniques to manage his workload effectively and create a better work-life balance.

  • Stress Management Techniques: Learning relaxation exercises and mindfulness techniques would help him manage his work-related anxieties.

  • Accessible Resources: Easy access to information and resources about mental health through his phone or computer.

  • Confidentiality: Rohan is concerned about potential career repercussions if his mental health struggles become known at work.

Mental Health Concerns:

  • Work-life balance issues

  • Burnout

  • Feeling constantly on edge

"I feel like I'm constantly running on empty. I never have time for myself, and it's affecting my work and relationships."

Rohan Krishnan

  • Age: 22

  • Occupation: Software Engineer

  • Location: Bangalore India

Pain Point:

  • Demanding Work Schedule: Rohan works long hours and struggles to disconnect from work outside of office time.

  • Job Insecurity: The fear of layoffs in the tech industry adds to his stress and anxiety.

  • Limited Time for Self-Care: With a demanding job and long commute, Rohan finds it difficult to prioritize his mental and physical well-being.

  • Lack of Awareness: Rohan isn't aware that his symptoms could be related to mental health and doesn't know where to seek help.

Goals and Needs:

  • Self-Help Tools: Aditi needs access to evidence-based techniques like relaxation exercises and meditation to manage her anxiety.

  • Anonymous Support: She would benefit from connecting with others facing similar challenges in a safe and anonymous online space.

  • Culturally Relevant Information: Information and resources should be available in Hindi to feel more comfortable and understood.

  • Privacy: Maintaining privacy is crucial for Aditi, who worries about judgment from friends and family.

Feels

  • Anxious

  • Depressed

  • Hopeless

  • Insecure

  • Alone

  • Frustrated

  • Scared

  • Confused

Thinks 

  • "There's something wrong with me."

  • "I'm letting everyone down."

  • "I'll never be successful if I keep feeling this way."

  • "I don't know how to ask for help."

  • "What if there is no help available?"

  • "The stigma surrounding mental health makes it hard to talk openly."

  • "I'm worried about the cost and accessibility of mental health resources."

Says

  • "I feel overwhelmed and stressed all the time."

  • "It's hard to sleep at night."

  • "I compare myself to others and feel like I'm not good enough."

  • "I don't want to talk to anyone about how I'm feeling."

  • "Therapy is too expensive or not readily available."

  • "I'm worried about what people will think if they know I'm struggling."

Does

  • Avoids social situations or cancels plans last minute.

  • Procrastinates on work or studies due to feeling overwhelmed.

  • Has difficulty concentrating or focusing on tasks.

  • Uses social media excessively, leading to negative comparisons.

  • Isolates themselves from friends and family.

  • Researches mental health online but feels lost and confused.

  • Key Pain Points: Long waiting times, transportation difficulties, and anxiety about health and safety.

  • Needs: Efficient appointment scheduling, better transportation options, comfortable waiting environments, and clear, empathetic communication from healthcare providers.

  • Opportunities for Improvement:  telemedicine for routine check-ups, improving hospital navigation and signage, creating dedicated spaces for pregnant women, and enhancing patient support services.

Insights

Information Architecture

Log In 

Opening Screen

Sign Up

Forget Password

Category Selection

Home Screen

Home Screen

Explore

Profile

Feed

Community

On Boarding

Wireframe
 

Start  Page
 

Login Page
 

Sign Up Page
 

Forget Password
 

Catergory Selection 

Profile Page
 

Home Screen

Post Page  (Picture/Video)

Post Page (Text)

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