JUNTOS
Student Mental Health App
Timeline:
12 weeks
Role:
UX Researcher& Designer
Team:
Nicole Chacón, Nicole Proaño, Pamela Sosa
Type:
Academic project for Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador
Tools:
Figma, Miro, Google Forms, In-depth Interviews, Zoom, Adobe Illustrator
The Challenge
COVID-19 drastically increased anxiety, depression, and emotional distress among university students. Although PUCE provided free psychological services, students were unaware of the program or faced confusion and bureaucracy when trying to access it. The system lacked communication, integration, and user-centric tools.
How might we design a supportive, accessible and emotionally intelligent system for students to seek mental health help with ease and confidence?
My Design Process
EMPATHIZE
Secondary Research
What we explored:
Increase in anxiety, depression, and burnout post-COVID
Psychological therapy trends: Mindfulness, ACT, CBT, journaling, and digital therapy
Innovation in psychological tools: mobile apps, VR therapy, physical stress-relief objects
Key Insights:
Students struggle with chronic stress, emotional instability, and academic pressure
Therapy trends favor accessibility, flexibility, and emotional self-regulation
Mobile solutions are becoming central in mental health care
User Interviews
We conducted three interviews with key stakeholders.
Paola Chacón
Role: Clinical psychologist
Area of Insight: Emotional needs and therapy practices
Key Questions
What psychological issues became more frequent after the pandemic?
What are the strengths and limitations of online therapy?
How does the physical therapy environment impact students’ comfort?
Jaime Sánchez
Role: Administrator at PUCE Escucha
Area of Insight: Referral workflow and system structure
Key Questions
What is the complete referral and intake process for students?
What role do academic tutors play in emotional support?
Do students know their rights to request mental health assistance?
Ivonne Ortiz
Role: Academic coordinator and student tutor
Area of Insight: Student support process and limitations
Key Questions
How do students from the design faculty access psychological support?
Is there any follow-up process after a student attends a session?
What are the current limitations tutors face when referring students?
Interview Findings
- Students are not followed up after sessions — there is no continuity.
- The system is fragmented: tutors, the wellbeing department, and psychological services do not coordinate efficiently.
- Students show emotional reluctance and lack awareness about the service.
- Academic tutors act as first contact points, but they are not trained mental health professionals.
- A centralized digital tool could reduce friction and create a smoother, more supportive experience.
Student Survey Summary
To better understand students’ emotional needs, awareness of services, and openness to digital tools, we conducted a survey with 146 students from the Faculty of Architecture, Design, and Arts (FADA).
This chart shows that most students had low awareness of existing psychological services.
This visual highlights student emotional needs and strong interest in mobile wellness tools.
Survey Findings
- 67% of students were not aware the service existed
- 21% of users found the current system slow or confusing
- 78% showed interest in using a mobile app for support
- 53% reported high levels of stress and academic anxiety
- Most preferred asynchronous tools like journaling and breathing exercises
Customer Journey
To understand the emotional, cognitive, and practical experience of a PUCE student when trying to access psychological services
This journey map visualizes the student experience when trying to access mental health services at PUCE, revealing key emotional and functional pain points. (MIRO)
Customer Journey Findings
Students feel emotionally unprepared to navigate the help-seeking process.
There is no centralized access point; steps vary by case.
Emotional friction increases due to inconsistent tutor involvement.
Students are left alone after the first session — no tools or continuity.
Lack of clarity discourages students from completing the journey.
Define
User Persona
A representation of our primary user, built from research insights, to guide empathetic and user-centered design decisions.
Project Goals
Develop a centralized, accessible, and student-friendly mental health platform.
Simplify the help-seeking process by reducing emotional and administrative friction.
Provide asynchronous tools that promote self-regulation and emotional continuity.
Create a supportive digital experience that feels human, confidential, and empowering.
Increase awareness and trust in PUCE’s psychological services through intuitive design.
IDEATE
User Flow
A visual representation of how users interact with the app to complete key tasks. It helps identify the ideal path and potential friction points, guiding the structure of the user experience.
This initial user flow shows the main navigation path from registration to emotional support features. (MIRO)
Prototype
Low-Fidelity Prototype
A basic wireframe version of the app, focused on structure and functionality over visuals.
Login & Dashboard
Login screen and home dashboard showcasing simple navigation and quick access to wellness tools.
Appointment Booking Screens
Prototype of the appointment request flow before iteration based on user feedback.
Initial version of the booking system, later replaced by external coordination via email.
TEST
Key Results
conducted with 15 students
- All users completed the tasks with ease.
- Most found the appointment feature unnecessary due to administrative complexity, preferring the app as a wellness companion for emotional support and stress relief.
- Students requested a warm, non-institutional design and suggested Apple Watch integration for mood tracking.
- Students also suggested Apple Watch integration for on-the-go mood tracking.
High-Fidelity Prototype
Explore the interactive prototype
Click below to experience the full user flow directly in Figma
These are some of the final screens developed during the prototyping phase. (Figma)
Apple Watch Sync
The app allows integration with Apple Watch to support users’ mental health on the go.
This preview shows how the main features adapt to the Apple Watch interface (Figma)
See the app in action!
A short video showing how users interact with daily check-ins, and Apple Watch syncing.