MindCare Youth: Mental Health Support for Swiss Adolescents

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Problem

Reports from the Swiss Federal Statistical Office and mental‑health charities show that depression and anxiety among adolescents in Switzerland are increasing. Many young people don’t receive timely help because they don’t realise that they are struggling or because of stigma around mental health. Early, anonymous screening and guidance can encourage adolescents to seek support and avoid long‑term problems.

Solution

MindCare Youth is an AI‑powered platform that helps Swiss adolescents assess their mental well‑being and access appropriate resources. The web app lets users complete a short, clinically validated questionnaire (for example based on PHQ‑9 and GAD‑7). It uses an AI model to analyse responses and provide instant feedback and coping strategies drawn from cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). A friendly chatbot offers personalised advice and tips on stress management, sleep, self‑esteem and other common topics. The platform also lists helplines and local services (Pro Juventute, Kontaktstelle Seelsorge etc.) so users can reach professional support when needed.

Target audience & impact

The primary audience is adolescents aged 12–18 in Switzerland, but the tool is also useful for families, educators and counsellors who want to support young people. By lowering the barrier to talk about mental health, MindCare Youth aims to promote early detection and intervention. The goal is to reduce the stigma surrounding mental‑health issues and improve outcomes by guiding users towards self‑help resources and professional care.

Implementation

The prototype is built with React and Material UI on the frontend, and Node.js with Python for backend APIs. TensorFlow.js powers the machine‑learning model that scores the questionnaire and powers the chatbot responses. Firebase provides authentication and data storage with strong encryption to protect user privacy. The system is designed to be multilingual (English, German, French and Italian) to cater to Switzerland’s diverse population. User data is stored anonymously and will never be shared with third parties.

Future work

Planned enhancements include integrating more evidence‑based questionnaires, adding gamified challenges to encourage continuous engagement, and partnering with schools and mental‑health organisations to make the tool widely available. We also plan to publish the code as open‑source and invite contributions from the community.

Built With

• firebase
• node.js
• python
• react
• tensorflow.js