Understanding your feelings and emotions with the help of emojis

Greenberry - a Dutch strategic digital design agency passionate about making the world a better place - and Garage2020 - pioneers in innovative solutions for new models of youth care - collaborated to develop 'feelee', together with digital development agency Hike. Feelee is an app that gives youngsters a better insight into their feelings and emotions. Teaching them in a lighthearted way how to identify those feelings, and, ultimately, improve their mental resilience.

The app had its first prototype in 2018. However, as with all their projects, Greenberry are in this for the long run. Now in 2022, after the app has undergone several pilot-and feasibility studies, they committed to an official partnership with Garage2020. Also, pilot studies with Levvel and Triade Vitree - two youth care institutions - have started. These institutions will use the app as part of their treatment.

Background and research

A 10% increase in mental health issues amongst adolescents compared to last year. The demand for mental health services for young people is growing. Waiting lists are full. Budgets are cut.

Also, youngsters find it hard to talk about their feelings and emotions. They hide behind their phones. Phones that are used as their main means of communication - through use of social media apps like SnapChat, TikTok and Instagram. These social media channels, unfortunately, also add to the social pressure that young people are increasingly experiencing nowadays.

All reasons for Greenberry and Garage2020 to join forces and come into action. To develop a smart app for youngsters offering an accessible way to commence their journey into a better understanding of their own emotions and, therefore, enabling them to improve their mental resilience.

Previous research and feasibility studies show the potential added value of the feelee app: it could lower the threshold for young people to start treatment as the app offers them an accessible way to share their emotions and feelings. Youngsters who took part in the pilots have expressed that they are happy that they can share their state of mind through an easy-to-use app, and that their therapists can also use this data in their weekly chats.

How does feelee work?

Young people often use emojis to talk with friends. Emojis make it easier for them to express how they are feeling.

Feelee is aimed at youngsters between 14 and 18 who are registered with mental health professionals. In the app these youngsters register every day how they are feeling by answering five short questions. They can reply to these questions with emojis. The app also counts their steps and how many hours they sleep. The daily registered emojis and data of the amounts of steps and hours of sleep are shared on a dashboard on their phone. This overview can be used as a tool when talking to their carers, or to better understand their own state of mind, as well as how their lifestyle can affect this.

Feelee allows youngsters to share their feelings without judgement or words. Because they prefer it that way.

Feedback

• users of the app give feelee an 8.6 out of 10
• 70% of participants would recommend feelee