LISTEN is a software designed to combat eating disorders in an accessible, inclusive way.
LISTEN provides real-time cognitive-behavioral therapy for those who are struggling with an eating disorder as well as those looking to be more body-positive. It includes a mobile application to customize the user's experience.
Our primary objective was to devise ways for individuals to better manage the intricacies between food, exercise, and mental health, and reduce the harmful impact of certain media consumption.
Our literature review identified key issues in the existing landscape. Current treatments for eating disorders face accessibility challenges due to insurance and professional capacity barriers. Additionally, harmful content glamorizing these disorders is not effectively moderated. Traditional treatment apps inadvertently can reinforce unhealthy habits. These findings emphasized the need for a new, user-centered solution.
To better understand the needs of students who struggle with eating disorders, we talked with experts who specialize in eating disorder treatment and students who struggle with eating disorders. Our findings revealed the following:
Using the information gathered, we created our persona:
The concept of our design is centered around cognitive behavioral therapy on the go. We wanted a solution that was preventative, inclusive and accessible to anyone at any time or place. Because the underlying causes of eating disorders are difficult to pinpoint, we want our design to help users develop the ability to practice cognitive behavioral therapy by themselves, so that they can get through triggers by themselves when there is no help available.
Our solution aims to focus on the following three scenarios: real-time, crisis and social media.
Based on the above, we designed a software that could facilitate CBT in all three scenarios.
CBT has an impressive success rate of 50-75 percent for reducing symptoms of eating disorders, although estimates do vary somewhat. However, an average therapist has a caseload that can be anywhere between 25 to 45 patients each week, which leads to less availability for appointments and patients not getting immediate help. When a patient doesn't get immediate and consistent help, they might end up not seeking treatment at all. In fact, less than 20% of people struggling with eating disorders are in treatment.
Our design has the potential to increase the number of people in treatment by providing an immediate, effective solution that can be utilized on a daily basis. We hope to increase the number of people receiving treatment from 20% to about 65%.
We believe that with rapidly growing technology, a solution like ours could be implemented and make the future of eating disorder treatment accessible, discrete and inclusive.
Under needed a way to ensure that their clients were able to communicate effectively with end users.
Exploring how to make the pursuit of craft more accessible.
