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Parent Dashboard: Easily see alerts for your teen’s searches and understand their risk levels at a glance
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Teen Dashboard: A simple space to enter searches safely and responsibly
Inspiration I went through a tough phase, struggling with anxiety, depression, sleeplessness, and even suicidal thoughts. Afraid to share with my parents, I often turned to Google for help. Realizing many others silently go through the same struggles inspired me to create a tool that detects harmful search patterns and offers timely support ,turning my pain into purpose.
What it does-Safe Search monitors online search patterns and detects when someone might be in emotional distress or at risk of self-harm. Instead of ignoring these signals, it immediately provides supportive resources and helpline information, offering timely help when it’s needed most.
How we built it-We built SafeSearch as a web app using Python and Flask. Teens enter their search terms through a simple input page, and the backend checks them against a set of risky keywords categorized into low, medium, and high risk. If a risky term is detected, the system generates an alert with the search term, timestamp, and risk level.
To make it more useful, we added a Parent Dashboard where alerts are displayed in a clear, color-coded format for quick understanding. All alerts are saved in a JSON file so they can be easily retrieved later. We designed the interface with HTML and CSS, keeping it clean, minimal, and easy to use.
Challenges we ran into-One of the toughest challenges I faced was figuring out how to detect risky searches without being too broad or too narrow. I had to carefully pick keywords to make sure the system stayed accurate and didn’t create false alarms. Another challenge was finding the right balance between simplicity and impact. I wanted the app to be lightweight and easy to use, while still handling such a sensitive topic responsibly. Working on a project around mental health on my own was emotionally intense, but it also made the experience deeply meaningful.
Accomplishments that Iam proud of-Iam proud that I was able to build a fully functional web application all on my own in just a few days. The app can detect risky searches and alert parents in real time, with a clean and user-friendly interface. Turning my personal experiences with mental health into a project that could help others made this work especially meaningful.
What I learned-I learned how to build a full web app using Python and Flask, design a simple and effective interface, and handle data responsibly. Most importantly, I learned how technology can be used with empathy to support mental health.
What's next for Safe Search – Teen Suicide Prevention Alerts
I plan to add real-time notifications, use AI to detect risky searches more accurately, and expand Safe Search into a browser or mobile app connected to mental health resources.
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