In March of 2020, America’s Disaster Distress Hotline reported an 891% increase in calls from citizens in distress. Mental health among American youth was already in a state of crisis when the global pandemic pushed the problem into critical territory. Leaders at 1N5 knew they needed to take action to handle the influx of calls and rapidly develop solution-based initiatives to support both staff and clients.
1N5 gathered a diverse group of community youth and their mentors to answer the question “how might we help students invest in their mental wellness?” These groups participated in two days of virtual design sprints with Impact by ExperiencePoint, guided remotely by a live facilitator.
The immersive, thought-provoking workshop generated solutions that 1N5 could implement over the course of 2021. Project proposals included an app to connect young people with mental health resources, a festival filled with activities and art to rally the community together, and a monthly subscription-style box dedicated to self-care and mental health. Moreover, 1N5 is now proficient in human-centered design techniques that will guide and develop future solution-based projects.
