I was inspired to created Lifejacket while taking a leave of absence from my university. I have major depressive disorder, and in the spring of sophomore year, I was too depressed to successfully complete the semester. While away, I learned about strategies for dealing with mental and emotional health issues, especially those faced by college students. Based on my own experience and on interviews with other students, I discovered the need for a wellness application - a way to keep track of moods and share moods so that others know they are not the only one feeling a certain way.
I learned how to code, first with Ruby on Rails and later with JavaScript and the Meteor framework. I began building an application that integrated productivity tools (such as a to-do list and grade tracker) with wellness tools (such as a gratitude journal and mood journal). My goal was to create an application for college students that would help reduce stress and depression and increase mindfulness and happiness. Lifejacket is currently at over 20 schools and I am looking forward to expanding in the hopes of impacting others' lives.
The key features I am most proud of are the gratitude journal and the mood journal. The competitive atmosphere of college and universities, the stress caused by academics and peer pressure, and the stigma of mental illness are some of the many factors that contribute to the neglect of emotional and mental health. By journaling about moods and keeping track of what they're grateful for, I hope students will be more mindful of their moods and will stay positive.
Log in or sign up for Devpost to join the conversation.