Inspiration
Athenya was inspired by a WhatsApp status during an anonymous thoughts sharing at the end of the semester. I realized a lot of Nigerian students where going through certain things affecting their mental health. Some of the students pointed out talking about it helped. So I decided to build a safe space for students and others to anonymously share their stories.
What it does
Athenya provides a gentle digital space for mental well-being. Users can share thoughts, reflect through prompts, and engage with a supportive community designed around empathy and respect. The platform prioritizes emotional safety, simplicity, and privacy, allowing users to participate at their own pace whether that means posting, reading, or simply being present.
How we built it
Athenya was built with .net web api + next.js for UI.
Challenges we ran into
One of the biggest challenges was balancing openness with safety. Designing a space that encourages honest expression while preventing harm required thoughtful constraints and clear community values.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
I am proud of creating a platform that feels calm, welcoming, and intentional from the first interaction. Launching Athenya as a functional and meaningful mental health space even in its early stage.
What we learned
I learned that mental health technology requires more listening than building. Small design choices have a big emotional impact, and clarity is more valuable than complexity. I also learned the importance of setting strong foundations early, especially around community trust and user safety.
What's next for Athenya
Next, I plan to continue refining the user experience based on real feedback, introduce thoughtful reflection tools, and strengthen moderation and safety features. My long-term vision is to grow Athenya into a trusted, sustainable space that supports mental well-being.
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