Mental Health App

Teenager Hannah Lucas develops an app to support those struggling with mental health

In a time when technology and smartphones are at the hands of nearly everyone, fighting mental health conditions using an app gives people a way to manage their wellbeing at the touch of a button. At just 15 years old, teenager Hannah Lucas utilized this idea and developed “notOK”. 

After developing Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), which is a chronic condition that causes fainting, Lucas became very fearful of her health. What if she fainted when nobody was around? This type of thinking pushed her into constantly feeling anxious, missing many classes, and ultimately, falling into depression. During one of her lowest moments, Lucas thought of the idea for the “notOK” app, pondering to herself, “What if there was a button she could press and someone would immediately know she was not okay?”. 

Following the stabilization of her condition, Lucas began taking courses on coding and entrepreneurship, which helped her envision her goal of developing the innovative “notOK”. Even Lucas’ younger, tech-savvy brother, Charlie, was all aboard with his sister’s mission. He wireframed the basics of the application and is still responsible for updates and design ideas. Soon enough, the Lucas family-duo had released their very own app. 

The “notOK” app is essentially a “digital panic button”: when you press it, it sends a text message to up to five pre-selected contacts with your current GPS location and directions. This type of app is especially useful for those suffering with mental health conditions, as it gives users a very easy way to access support from trusted individuals. Unfortunately, mental health is still an area that does not receive the attention it deserves. Applications like “notOK” will help to bridge this gap and connect those at-risk to trusted individuals at a single push of a button. 

This creative app has received nothing less than great feedback. Lucas explains that this app gives her hope, stating that “...this app is important because it takes all of the guesswork out of asking for help. It's okay to be not okay. It's okay to ask for help, because when you get that help, you will be so much better because of it...” (Rudnick, 2020). 

Check out the “notOK” app here! 

References: 

NotOK app. Retrieved from https://www.notokapp.com/

Rudnick, G. (2020, October 16). After a suicide attempt, this teen created an app to help others struggling with mental health issues. Retrieved from https://www.wgal.com/article/teen-created-app-help-others-struggling-with-mental-health-issues/34399110