Muscat – A student team has developed an innovative application called ‘Chillax’ aimed at addressing psychological issues, relieving stress and enabling correct understanding of mental health concepts.

Amna bint Malik al Dahmani, a member of the team, spoke to ONA about the multifaceted app. It includes various features, including ‘psychological nutrition’ and ‘treatment rooms’ which offer two types of therapy sessions – immediate ones available the same day and others that can be scheduled as per the user’s convenience.

An integral part of the app is a diagnostic test that evaluates whether the user requires therapy.

Detailing the development process, Amna informed that it involved several stages, including extensive consultations with mental health professionals, creating a prototype to understand the app’s functionality, and developing a tangible web-based model for trial use.

Additionally, the team prepared an exhaustive questionnaire to assess the app’s feasibility and the community’s acceptance of the concept.

According to Amna, what sets Chillax apart from other mental health apps is the inclusion of alternative solutions to psychological problems, such as yoga, meditation and interior design. “These methods have a major role in altering an individual’s mindset,” she explained, emphasising the team’s commitment to quality.

However, development of the app was not without challenges. Amna noted difficulties in selecting mental health specialists and finding a programmer to develop the app. Despite these hurdles, she stressed that the experience taught the team valuable lessons in facing challenges, developing strategies to overcome these, and staying abreast of the latest trends in entrepreneurship. “Our experience highlighted the importance of building a wide network of relationships,” she added.

The team’s efforts have been recognised; it qualified for the final round of a competition conducted by a company affiliated to INJAZ Oman alongside 14 other teams.