RESCYOU
RESCYOU
A Discreet Mental Health Tool Supporting First Responders
A Discreet Mental Health Tool Supporting First Responders
A digital product that helps EMS workers access mental health support through smartwatches and peer communities, reducing stigma and improving long-term outcomes.
A digital product that helps EMS workers access mental health support through smartwatches and peer communities, reducing stigma and improving long-term outcomes.
project summary
project summary
RescYou, bridges the gap for EMS workers hesitant to seek available resources. This digital tool supports mental health by minimizing depression and PTSD in a non-intrusive, community-oriented manner. This is achieved via smart watch, supportive forums and resources.
RescYou, bridges the gap for EMS workers hesitant to seek available resources. This digital tool supports mental health by minimizing depression and PTSD in a non-intrusive, community-oriented manner. This is achieved via smart watch, supportive forums and resources.
Final Prototype
Final Prototype
my role
my role
UX Researcher
UX Researcher
UX Designer
UX Designer
Product Ideation & Iteration
Product Ideation & Iteration
platform
platform
Built for smartwatch integration with Android & iOS compatibility
Built for smartwatch integration with Android & iOS compatibility
tools and methods
tools and methods
A/B Testing
A/B Testing
Secondary Research
Secondary Research
Component-Based Design System
Component-Based Design System
Typography & Color System Design
Typography & Color System Design
Developer Handoff
Developer Handoff
User Interviews
User Interviews
CHALLENGE
The Silent Crisis Behind the Sirens
CHALLENGE
The Silent Crisis Behind the Sirens
why?
why?
EMS workers experience some of the highest rates of PTSD and burnout, yet stigma and limited access keep them from seeking support.
EMS workers experience some of the highest rates of PTSD and burnout, yet stigma and limited access keep them from seeking support.
Existing systems are slow, clinical, and hard to reach during emergencies, leaving responders isolated during their most vulnerable moments.
Existing systems are slow, clinical, and hard to reach during emergencies, leaving responders isolated during their most vulnerable moments.
solution
solution
RescYou is a smartwatch-enabled support tool that fits seamlessly into the lives of first responders. With real-time stress tracking and anonymous peer support, it offers immediate and judgment-free help. By using devices that many EMS workers already wear and trust, RescYou provides discreet, continuous care designed to reduce stigma and support mental resilience.
RescYou is a smartwatch-enabled support tool that fits seamlessly into the lives of first responders. With real-time stress tracking and anonymous peer support, it offers immediate and judgment-free help. By using devices that many EMS workers already wear and trust, RescYou provides discreet, continuous care designed to reduce stigma and support mental resilience.
outcome
outcome
Delivered high-fidelity, dev-ready screens and smartwatch flows.
Delivered high-fidelity, dev-ready screens and smartwatch flows.
Integrated feedback from real EMS professionals.
Integrated feedback from real EMS professionals.
Won RTI competition with positive organizational feedback.
Won RTI competition with positive organizational feedback.
Laid a roadmap for therapist integration and market expansion.
Laid a roadmap for therapist integration and market expansion.
my contribution
my contribution
Conducted user interviews and gathered frontline insights.
Conducted user interviews and gathered frontline insights.
Synthesized research into usable design directions.
Synthesized research into usable design directions.
Co-led the app’s visual identity, logo, and calming UI color system.
Co-led the app’s visual identity, logo, and calming UI color system.
Co-led usability testing and integrated A/B feedback loops.
Co-led usability testing and integrated A/B feedback loops.
problem statement
Heroes need help too
problem statement
Heroes need help too
problem
problem
First responders face significantly higher rates of PTSD, depression, and suicide than the general population, yet stigma and organizational culture often prevent them from seeking help. Many available mental health tools are either too clinical, too generic, or fail to account for the high-stress, mobile nature of emergency work. As a result, EMS professionals are left to manage trauma alone, often using ad-hoc coping methods that don’t scale and don’t heal.
First responders face significantly higher rates of PTSD, depression, and suicide than the general population, yet stigma and organizational culture often prevent them from seeking help. Many available mental health tools are either too clinical, too generic, or fail to account for the high-stress, mobile nature of emergency work. As a result, EMS professionals are left to manage trauma alone, often using ad-hoc coping methods that don’t scale and don’t heal.
current solutions
current solutions
Informal buddy systems.
Informal buddy systems.
Delayed or absent mental health treatment
Delayed or absent mental health treatment
Use of generic, non-specialized wellness apps.
Use of generic, non-specialized wellness apps.
Reliance on peer support with no structure.
Reliance on peer support with no structure.
TL;DR
TL;DR
First responders need fast, stigma-free tools to manage stress and trauma. RescYou delivers them where and when they’re needed most.
First responders need fast, stigma-free tools to manage stress and trauma. RescYou delivers them where and when they’re needed most.
why now?
why now?
First responders are facing an escalating mental health crisis, with PTSD, burnout, and suicide rates continuing to rise globally. While Psychological First Aid (PFA) has gained traction as a response model, it lacks integration with modern technology, especially tools that deliver real-time, data-informed interventions. At the same time, the increasing adoption of wearable tech among EMS workers presents a timely opportunity to connect support with those who need it most, right when they need it.
First responders are facing an escalating mental health crisis, with PTSD, burnout, and suicide rates continuing to rise globally. While Psychological First Aid (PFA) has gained traction as a response model, it lacks integration with modern technology, especially tools that deliver real-time, data-informed interventions. At the same time, the increasing adoption of wearable tech among EMS workers presents a timely opportunity to connect support with those who need it most, right when they need it.
what's missing?
what's missing?
Accessible, stigma-free onboarding for mental wellness.
Accessible, stigma-free onboarding for mental wellness.
Smartwatch oriented tools.
Smartwatch oriented tools.
Anonymous, moderated EMS forums.
Anonymous, moderated EMS forums.
Personal journaling and emotional check-ins triggered by biometric stress detection.
Personal journaling and emotional check-ins triggered by biometric stress detection.
Scalable support networks that expand beyond peer chat, including professional outreach.
Scalable support networks that expand beyond peer chat, including professional outreach.
the opportunity
the opportunity
20M+ potential users globally. (EMS, firefighters, volunteers)
20M+ potential users globally. (EMS, firefighters, volunteers)
Expandable to general disaster survivors.
Expandable to general disaster survivors.
Nearly 60% of first responders already use wearable devices like smartwatches or fitness trackers.
Nearly 60% of first responders already use wearable devices like smartwatches or fitness trackers.
Existing solutions like PFA lack digital delivery and real-time tracking.
Existing solutions like PFA lack digital delivery and real-time tracking.
Workplace initiatives and peer programs exist but lack tech support.
Workplace initiatives and peer programs exist but lack tech support.
Growing awareness around first responder wellness signals strong user receptiveness.
Growing awareness around first responder wellness signals strong user receptiveness.
Contraints
Difficult road to success
Contraints
Difficult road to success
time contraints
time contraints
4 total sprints (2 weeks each)
4 total sprints (2 weeks each)
Weekly stakeholder meetings ensured alignment and clarity
Weekly stakeholder meetings ensured alignment and clarity
5-member team
5-member team
No external testing budget
No external testing budget
research barriers
research barriers
Limited access to first responders reduced the range of primary insights.
Limited access to first responders reduced the range of primary insights.
No budget for testing incentives or lab environments.
No budget for testing incentives or lab environments.
Heavy reliance on secondary research and informal testing setups.
Heavy reliance on secondary research and informal testing setups.
Trade-Offs
Trade-Offs
Limited feature set in MVP.
Limited feature set in MVP.
Smartwatch features were only tested on one device, limiting compatibility checks.
Smartwatch features were only tested on one device, limiting compatibility checks.
Prioritized high-stress flows over onboarding customization.
Prioritized high-stress flows over onboarding customization.
What success looks like
What success looks like
Clear app navigation for stress scenarios.
Clear app navigation for stress scenarios.
Ease-of-use in a panic or emotional moment.
Ease-of-use in a panic or emotional moment.
Consistent branding from logo to screen.
Consistent branding from logo to screen.
Recognized by RTI for the innovation award.
Recognized by RTI for the innovation award.
High usability scores in scenario-based A/B testing.
High usability scores in scenario-based A/B testing.
Clear alignment between user needs and feature prioritization.
Clear alignment between user needs and feature prioritization.
Low fidelity Wireframes
Initial solutions
Low fidelity Wireframes
Initial solutions
Mid fidelity wireframes
made for usability testing
Mid fidelity wireframes
made for usability testing
research & insights
Through their eyes: research that reshaped the product
research & insights
Through their eyes: research that reshaped the product
our approach
our approach
Literature review: PTSD, depression, stigma, and cultural barriers among first responders.
Literature review: PTSD, depression, stigma, and cultural barriers among first responders.
Stakeholder discovery: Identified emotional burdens in the disaster recovery phase and barriers to help-seeking.
Stakeholder discovery: Identified emotional burdens in the disaster recovery phase and barriers to help-seeking.
Secondary research: Explored Psychological First Aid (PFA), peer-support systems, and wearable integration as trauma tools.
Secondary research: Explored Psychological First Aid (PFA), peer-support systems, and wearable integration as trauma tools.
Persona synthesis: Created user personas from interviews and industry insights representing field responders and support staff
Persona synthesis: Created user personas from interviews and industry insights representing field responders and support staff
Usability testing: Ran structured A/B testing with responders to assess interface clarity, icon understanding, and feature discoverability
Usability testing: Ran structured A/B testing with responders to assess interface clarity, icon understanding, and feature discoverability
Usability testing summary
Usability testing summary
We conducted moderated A/B testing with 4 participants, using scenario-based tasks across 3 core flows:
We conducted moderated A/B testing with 4 participants, using scenario-based tasks across 3 core flows:
Tracking stress and identifying high-alert days.
Tracking stress and identifying high-alert days.
Posting to a mental health forum.
Posting to a mental health forum.
Locating and using the 24/7 helpline.
Locating and using the 24/7 helpline.
Quantitative Metrics
Quantitative Metrics
Task success rates.
Task success rates.
Time-to-completion.
Time-to-completion.
"Lostness" index (navigation confusion).
"Lostness" index (navigation confusion).
Missed feature count
Missed feature count
Prompt frequency
Prompt frequency
key findings
key findings
Task success was high, but several users required verbal prompts, especially in the helpline task.
Task success was high, but several users required verbal prompts, especially in the helpline task.
The "+" icon was unclear and too small, which caused navigation delays.
The "+" icon was unclear and too small, which caused navigation delays.
Graphs were praised for clarity, but users wanted numerical data shown explicitly.
Graphs were praised for clarity, but users wanted numerical data shown explicitly.
The app flow was generally intuitive, but users lacked in-context guidance when confused.
The app flow was generally intuitive, but users lacked in-context guidance when confused.
Community features were positively received but needed clearer engagement cues (e.g., clickable group titles).
Community features were positively received but needed clearer engagement cues (e.g., clickable group titles).
Planned Improvements
Planned Improvements
Increase size and placement of key icons like “+”.
Increase size and placement of key icons like “+”.
Add tooltips and onboarding walkthroughs.
Add tooltips and onboarding walkthroughs.
Restructure FAQs for visibility and use.
Restructure FAQs for visibility and use.
Reorder emergency features by priority.
Reorder emergency features by priority.
Display numbers directly on charts and graphs.
Display numbers directly on charts and graphs.
Make forum groups more interactive and scannable.
Make forum groups more interactive and scannable.
TL;DR
TL;DR
We combined research, interviews, and A/B usability testing to uncover pain points in navigation, icon clarity, and data presentation for first responders using the app. Key takeaways led to design improvements like larger icons, clearer graphs, tooltips, and more intuitive access to support features.
We combined research, interviews, and A/B usability testing to uncover pain points in navigation, icon clarity, and data presentation for first responders using the app. Key takeaways led to design improvements like larger icons, clearer graphs, tooltips, and more intuitive access to support features.
