In the United States, the prevalence of mental health disorders among youth is alarmingly high, with one in six aged 6-17 experiencing such challenges annually. Shockingly, half of these affected youth do not receive the treatment they urgently need, contributing to the grim statistics of suicide, which claims a life every 11 minutes and sees a suicide attempt every 26 seconds. Addressing this crisis, a non-profit organization has developed a fun and entertaining app aimed at empowering children’s mental health through the transformative power of dance therapy.

The app stands out for its focus on enhancing both cognitive skills and physical activity, utilizing patented motion-tracking technology to offer interactive sessions. Moreover, the app’s content is carefully curated by board-certified psychiatrists, ensuring its pedagogical effectiveness and therapeutic value.

This poster presents the results of user research conducted by HITLAB for the app, employing methodologies including user persona creation, empathy mapping, and customer journey mapping. Through this comprehensive approach, we gained profound insights into the diverse needs, emotions, and experiences of the app’s target audience. By synthesizing these findings, we have refined our strategies to enhance every facet of the customer journey, ultimately aiming to provide meaningful support and intervention for youth struggling with mental health challenges.