Digital stress management solution for US College Students

与世界各地的许多教育机构一样，美国大学发现，它们面临着越来越大的压力，需要为学生提供强有力的心理健康支持服务。在资源稀缺使得高校很难聘请到足够的辅导员来满足需求的情况下，对大学生心理健康服务的需求正在增加。其结果是，学生必须等待数周才能找到心理咨询师，或者一旦治疗开始，学生可能会被限制在一定数量的心理咨询师那里。该项目是一项可行性研究，旨在研究向两组学生提供智能手机压力管理资源的影响。第一组将关注目前正在接受学生焦虑咨询服务的学生；第二组将关注一组不需要咨询服务但经常感到焦虑的大学生。为了控制压力反应，重要的是学习如何管理压力反应中的两个系统。这比听起来的要简单。管理压力反应的最有效方法之一是训练身体控制心率或心率变异性(HRV)模式，这反过来会引起神经系统的反应，进而调节压力荷尔蒙。TakeTen开发了一款压力控制App，通过将手指放在智能手机摄像头上，对用户的心率进行实时反馈。该应用程序在应用程序界面上反映了三个区域中的一个：\*红色区域反映了不安或焦虑的状态\*蓝色区域反映了一种中性状态\*绿色区域反映了一种平静的生理和情绪状态从根本上说，该应用程序允许用户“_**看到自己的感受**_”。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，他们会更好地控制自己的神经系统，并制定更有效的应对策略来应对压力和焦虑。拟议的解决方案将允许干预和潜在地解决途径早期的焦虑症状。它将允许个人在家中或在大学里自我管理症状。这将有助纾缓目前学生心理健康服务的压力，并让更需要辅导的人士更快获得所需的服务。

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.