SMS - Successo, Mente e Saúde | E-learning Platform for Mental Health Awareness and Education

The SMS project involved creating a comprehensive e-learning platform to support mental health education for Portuguese schoolchildren and educators. This innovative tool provides two tailored programs—SMS Jovens for students and SMS Educadores for teachers—offering interactive, engaging content designed to promote mental health awareness, emotional regulation, and social skills. The platform combines educational resources with gamification and user-friendly features to foster resilience and support mental well-being among young people, enhancing their ability to understand and manage mental health issues effectively.

Technology Stack

• Javascript
• React
• Node.js

Problem

Portugal faces a significant mental health crisis, with 20% of children and adolescents experiencing at least one mental disorder and 31% showing symptoms of depression. This stark reality emphasizes the urgent need for early intervention and education to build resilience among young people. The challenge was to create a comprehensive e-learning platform that could effectively complement face-to-face classes and engage students in understanding and managing their mental health.

Solution

To address these challenges, we developed the SMS eSaúde platform, designed to offer two distinct programs:

SMS Jovens: Aimed at teenagers, this program focuses on promoting mental health through interactive and engaging content. It provides students with practical tools to express their emotions, build relationships, and understand both their own and others' emotions.

SMS Educadores: Targeted at educators, this program supports the SMS Jovens initiative by offering additional resources and strategies to help teachers effectively address and support students' mental health needs.

The platform integrates educational content with interactive elements to make learning about mental health engaging and impactful.

Process

1. Desk Research:

Our project began with extensive desk research to understand the current state of mental health among Portuguese youth. This research highlighted the critical need for early intervention and informed our approach to developing the platform. Key findings included:

• Portugal is the 5th highest EU country in mental health issues.
• 20% of children and adolescents have at least one mental disorder.
• 31% of adolescents show depressive symptoms.

2. Meeting with Client:

We collaborated closely with SMS experts to align our platform with their vision. The experts provided insights into the common challenges faced by teenagers, such as:

• Expressing feelings accurately.
• Building close relationships with peers and family.
• Identifying and understanding emotions.

The goal was to empower students to handle personal obstacles effectively and build resilience through practical and engaging tools.

3. Ideation:

The project was divided into two main components:

• Public Website: Provides general information about the SMS program, mental health resources, and a forum for discussing mental health topics.
• Private Area: Exclusively for program participants, including pupils, guardians, and teachers. This area focuses on delivering tailored content for students, fostering an interactive and supportive learning environment.

4. UI Style Guide:

Designing for a youthful audience required a visually stimulating approach. We used:

• A warm and vivid color palette to make the platform visually appealing.
• Illustrations of young people to help teenagers relate to the content.
• Simple, engaging visuals to maintain user focus on the educational content.

5. UX Writing:

The platform’s tone was crafted to be friendly and supportive, avoiding a judgmental or authoritative voice. For example:

• Encouraging feedback for incorrect answers and celebrating successes.
• Using relatable, real-life examples to explain complex terms and concepts.

6. Fun, Didactic Content:

Recognizing the preference of Generation Z for interactive learning, we incorporated:

• Videos, audios, quizzes, and games.
• Multiple formats to make learning engaging and enjoyable.

7. Gamification:

To further motivate students, we introduced a gamification system:

• Students earn coins, jewels, and crowns as they progress through the program.
• This system encourages continuous engagement and makes the learning experience more immersive.

Summary

The SMS eSaúde platform is designed to address the pressing issue of mental health awareness among Portuguese youth. By integrating interactive, gamified elements with educational content, the platform offers a comprehensive solution for promoting mental well-being. This innovative tool is set to make a significant impact, helping students and educators build resilience and effectively manage mental health challenges. We are proud to have collaborated with the University of Coimbra to create a resource that promises to foster a healthier, more informed generation.

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