​Technology-Assisted System Change for Suicide Prevention (TASCS)
Transforming Post-Emergency Mental Health Support​​
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Overview
​TASCS is an innovative initiative designed to enhance post-emergency mental health support. The platform mitigates suicide risk by leveraging technology-driven mental health counseling, ensuring seamless communication between patients, healthcare providers, and families.
Outcomes
​The TASCS (interconnected multi-device system, including the mobile patient app) was successfully delivered. This solution has the potential to significantly decrease suicide rates among ED patients, offering a scalable model for mental health intervention. Initial feedback indicates a 30% increase in mental health support awareness among patients.
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Role
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UX designer/UX researcher.​
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Team
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Behavioral scientists, hospital administrators, UX designers, 3rd-party developers.
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Figma, Excel.
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The Problem
Suicide remains a critical public health issue:
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In 2016, 44,695 suicides were reported in the U.S., accounting for 1.6% of all deaths.
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Over 1 million suicide attempts occur annually.
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Emergency departments are often the first point of intervention but struggle to provide adequate post-suicide attempt care.
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Research
Understanding the existing gaps in post-emergency mental health care was crucial. Through a combination of qualitative and quantitative research, we identified pain points and opportunities:
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Interviews with hospital staff and mental health professionals to understand barriers in care.
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User journey mapping to identify friction points in the ED experience.
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Empathy mapping, persona spectrums & hierarchical cluster analysis to define key user personas.
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User Journey Mapping (Before)
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Persona Spectrum Building (1/14)
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Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (from 14 to 5)
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Empathy mapping (1/5)
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Findings
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Our research uncovered significant gaps in post-emergency mental health care:
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Many patients feel lost after being discharged from the ED, lacking clear next steps.
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Families struggle to stay informed about post-suicide attempt care.
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Healthcare providers lack a seamless system for follow-up support.
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The fragmented mental health system makes continuity of care difficult.
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There is a critical need for validated risk screening and intervention strategies.
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The solution: TASCS
TASCS is an interconnected, multi-device system that ensures consistent connections among patients, healthcare providers, and families. Key design objectives focused on reducing cognitive load and enhancing user trust:
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Effortless Navigation – an intuitive and accessible user interface, accommodating users with diverse cognitive abilities.
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Creating a Calming Experience – a soothing color palette and minimalistic design for a stress-free user experience.
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Fostering Compassionate Interactions – Supportive, empathetic language to encourage engagement.
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Establishing Trust – an introductory guide to help users understand the system purpose and functionality.
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User Journey Mapping (After)
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How It Works
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My Scope: Mobile App
According to the defined concept, we divided TASCS into four distinct applications. My primary focus was on the mobile patient app, ensuring that our design process was targeted and efficient.
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Competitive Analysis
I conducted a competitive analysis of digital health platforms to identify best practices in user engagement and retention. Through this research, I sought real-world implementations of the features we defined. The Wysa app emerged as the closest match, incorporating key elements such as:
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Self-care tools
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Access to therapists
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Journaling features
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SOS support (emergency helpline & safety plan)
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Storyboarding
Based on User and Market Analysis, I created storyboarding to refine the user experience based on stakeholder feedback.
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Slide #1
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Design & Development
I developed wireframes and interactive prototypes using Figma, iterating designs based on feedback from mental health professionals and former ER patients.
Due to regulatory constraints in healthcare technology, I collaborated closely with a third-party development team to ensure compliance and optimize the transition from design to implementation.
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Outcomes
The TASCS (interconnected multi-device system, including the mobile patient app) was successfully delivered. This solution has the potential to significantly decrease suicide rates among ED patients, offering a scalable model for mental health intervention. Initial feedback indicates a 30% increase in mental health support awareness among the post-ER audience.
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What's Next?
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​Due to NDA restrictions, details on future developments are limited. However, planned improvements include:
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Expanded integrations with existing healthcare systems for seamless data sharing.
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Personalized AI-driven mental health support for ongoing risk assessment.
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Additional usability enhancements based on user feedback and analytics.
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