Digital stress management solution for US College Students

像世界各地的许多教育机构一样，美国大学发现他们在为学生提供强大的心理健康支持服务方面面临着越来越大的压力。大学生对心理健康服务的需求正在增加，而资源稀缺使得大学很难雇用足够的咨询师来满足需求。其结果是，学生们不得不等待数周才能见到咨询师，或者一旦治疗开始，学生们与咨询师的会面次数可能会受到限制。本项目是一项可行性研究，旨在研究为两组学生提供智能手机压力管理资源的影响。第一组将重点关注目前正在接受焦虑学生咨询服务的学生；第二组将重点关注一群不需要咨询服务但经常被认为焦虑的大学生。为了控制应激反应，学习如何管理参与应激反应的两个系统是很重要的。这比听起来简单多了。管理压力反应最有效的方法之一是训练身体控制心率或心率变异性（HRV）模式，这反过来引起神经系统的反应，进而调节压力激素。TakeTen开发了一款压力控制应用程序，用户只需将指尖放在智能手机摄像头上，就能实时反馈心率。该应用程序在应用程序界面上以3个区域之一反映心律：\*红色区域反映不安或焦虑状态\*蓝色区域，中性状态\*绿色区域反映平静的生理和情绪状态。从本质上讲，该应用程序允许用户“_**看到他们的感受**_”。它通过创造情绪和生理上的平静来训练用户进入绿色区域。随着时间的推移，他们对自己的神经系统有了更好的控制，并有了更有效的应对压力和焦虑的策略。提出的解决方案将允许干预和潜在的解决焦虑症状的早期途径。它将允许个人在家里或大学里自我管理症状。这反过来将有助于减轻目前学生心理健康服务的压力，并使那些更需要咨询的个人能够更快地获得所需的服务。

Like many education establishments around the world, US Universities find that they under increased pressure to provide their students with robust mental health support services. The demand for mental health services for college students is increasing at a time when scarce resources make it very difficult for Universities to hire sufficient counsellors to meet the demand. The result is students having to wait weeks before a counsellor is available, or once treatment starts, students may be limited to a set number of sessions with the counsellor.This project is a feasibility study to look at the impact of providing a smartphone stress management resource to 2 cohorts of students. The first group will focus on students currently attending student counselling services for anxiety; the second group will focus on a group of college students who do not require counselling services but who identify as being anxious on a regular basis.In order to control the stress response, its important to learn how to manage the two systems involved in the stress response. It is simpler than it sounds. One of the most effective means to manage the stress response is to train the body to control the heart rhythms or heart rate variability (HRV) patterns, which in turn elicits a response in the nervous system and in turn regulation of stress hormones.TakeTen have developed a stress control App which gives real time feedback on the user's heart rhythms by placing a fingertip on the smartphone camera. The app reflects the heart rhythms on the app interface in one of 3 zones:\* the red zone reflects an unsettled or anxious state\* blue zone, a neutral state\* the green zone reflects a calm physiological & emotional stateEssentially the App allows the user to "_**see their feelings**_". It trains the user to get into the green zone by creating emotional and physiological calm. Over time they develop more control over their nervous system and more effective coping strategies to deal with stress and anxiety.The proposed solution will allow for intervention and potential resolution of anxiety symptoms early in the pathway. It will allow individuals to self-manage symptoms at home, or at college. This in turn, will help to relieve the current pressure on student mental health services and allow those individuals who are in greater need of counselling to gain quicker access to the required services.