UX / Dutch National Institute for Public Health (RIVM)
DESIGNING FOR A BETTER HEALTH (Co Design Minor in HU/Utrecht)
Research problem
It happens too often that patients suffering from depression do not get the required help on time due to the waiting list procedures. We found out during our research that most people we interviewed had once struggled with long waiting lists. It is a major problem that implies a big threat to the recovery process of the patients.
“I just had the appointment that I have been
waiting for a year! One year to get a proper
specialist instead of the typical ‘how-are-youtoday’
talk” (Samira, 2nd Oct)
Research goal
With this project we want to connect people suffering from depression with the communities around them and also to
give them a sense of being cared for.
Research question
How can we help our target group while they are in the waiting list for a treatment?
Methods
To answer this question we interviewed many specialists, organized discussion groups and co-design sessions and carried out in depth desk research about the subject.
Answer to the research question
We created an app that keeps track of the user’s habits and mood to give them feedback in line with the information they filled out. Also, to provide them with information of activities aimed at depressed people in their surrounding area while connecting them with their community.
