ReachMe APP

Inspiration

One in five people won’t reach out during a mental health crisis — afraid no one will answer. ReachMe was built to change that. The access gap is personal. Too many people are suffering in silence not because help doesn’t exist, but because the path to it is broken. We wanted to build the on-ramp the mental health system has always been missing — warm, immediate, and available at 2 AM when everything feels heaviest.

What it does

ReachMe is an AI-powered emotional wellness app that meets you in your moment of need. Aria, our 24/7 AI companion, listens without judgment and responds with warmth. Users can discover and swipe through 500+ licensed therapists filtered by specialty, book sessions instantly, log journal entries from their conversations, and access a full crisis support hub with hotlines, a safety plan, and grounding tools — all in one place.

How we built it

Built with React/JSX on Bolt, deployed to reachme.network. The AI companion runs on Anthropic's Claude API, secured through Supabase Edge Functions to protect API keys from client exposure. The UI was intentionally designed with a dark, calming aesthetic and purple/violet tones to create emotional safety. Every screen — from Aria's chat to the crisis hub — was built mobile-first.

Challenges we ran into

Because ReachMe handles sensitive mental health content, Bolt’s content filter flagged crisis-related language in our source code — blocking builds unexpectedly. We worked around it by pasting code directly into Bolt’s file editor. We also had to solve the browser CORS restriction on direct Anthropic API calls, which required routing everything through a secure edge function proxy.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

• Aria feels genuinely warm — not like a chatbot • A fully functional crisis hub with real hotlines, a 5-step safety plan, and grounding tools • A Tinder-style therapist discovery experience with specialty filters and instant booking • A journal that saves every session so users can track their emotional journey • Shipped a complete, live mental health app at reachme.network

What we learned

The hardest problems in mental health tech aren't technical — they're human. Every word, color, and interaction carries weight. We learned how to architect a secure AI pipeline, navigate content moderation in sensitive domains, and design for users who are vulnerable. Most importantly, we learned that speed of access is care. The faster someone can feel heard, the better the outcome.

What's next for ReachMe APP

• Live therapist video session booking
• Personalized mood tracking and mental health insights
• Community peer support circles
• Insurance verification integration
• Native iOS and Android apps
• Partnerships with hospitals, universities, and employers to bring ReachMe to the people who need it most

Built With

• api
• bolt
• claude-hussenet-anagram