The Challenge
Each collaborative group was asked to identify, explore, and develop conclusions and recommendations for a design problem related to contemporary society. Our topic concerned the on-campus resources available for University of Toronto students concerned with their mental health care. Specifically, we wanted to determine whether or not the current services and materials were sufficient for the graduate student body, what pain points exist, and how solutions could potentially be implemented through a digital platform.
The Research
Our study collected both quantitative and qualitative data from a user group that comprised primarily of graduate students who have previous experience using on-campus mental health services. We utilized a mixed method approach, and incorporated both one-on-one semi-structured interviews and questionnaires in our research.
We surveyed a total of 94 graduate students, and found that 45% of students found difficulties in booking appointments for professional help, and that the main contributing factors were (1) wait times (2) unsure of where to go (3) unsure of what's available. Students are generally unaware of campus resources and how to access them.
The Solution
Based on our research findings, we have identified a lack of easily accessible information regarding mental health resources on campus. In order to alleviate this, we propose the creation of an online system that centralizes information regarding mental health services at U of T. This online system will (a) guide students to resources based on their concern (b) allow students to manage their appointments (c) reduce social stigma by providing a platform for discussion while maintaining anonymity.