Mental health in the Netherlands is under pressure. More and more people are experiencing psychological complaints, while waiting times are increasing and the current healthcare system is reaching its limits. At the same time, the use of digital environments such as social media is proving increasingly decisive for mental health and mental resilience.
The question is therefore not only how care can be organised differently, but also how the digital environments that support this can be designed and structured in such a way that they contribute to mental resilience.
Designing the Stack is a collaboration between parties from the mental healthcare sector, design agencies from the creative industry, and the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. In living labs with communities of patient and family organisations, it will explore what such online environments — and their management — could look like. This takes shape in a 'stack', ranging from interface and interaction design, through community dynamics and stewardship, to a governance model.
This challenge is also relevant to other sectors of society. Insights from the project will lead to new design practices and frameworks for action for the creative industry and public organisations that want to gain greater control over the development of digital public spaces.