Mind Harbor: Development of an AI-Powered Prototype for Student Mental Health Support.
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| Title: | Mind Harbor: Development of an AI-Powered Prototype for Student Mental Health Support. |
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| Authors: | Thomas, Sherin1 sherin.thomas@utas.edu.om, Devi, Jaishree1 jaishree.devi@utas.edu.om, Al Khuitari, Marwa Said Amur1 marwa.alkhuitari@utas.edu.om, Palanisamy, Ramesh1 ramesh.palanisamy@utas.edu.om |
| Source: | International Journal of Interactive Mobile Technologies. 2026, Vol. 20 Issue 12, p100-112. 13p. |
| Subjects: | Chatbots, Language models, Data protection, User-centered system design, Student well-being, Crisis intervention (Mental health services) |
| Geographic Terms: | Oman |
| Abstract: | This paper presents the development of a prototype for a system called Mind Harbor; an AI-based platform aimed at supporting the mental health of university students. It builds on our earlier study, Mind Harbor: Navigating Wellness Together--with AI Integration, which identified the need for socially sensitive and accessible mental health support in Oman. In this second phase, we move from concept to implementation. The system uses a chatbot powered by a large language model (LLM) to provide empathetic and context-aware conversations with students. The prototype follows human-centered design principles to ensure it feels supportive and non-judgmental. It includes a simple web and mobile interface, basic privacy through username-and-password login, and culturally adapted responses. The system architecture has four main layers: user interface, application layer, LLM integration, and data management with MongoDB. Features such as a mood tracker, guided prompts, and a crisis support button are included to make the platform more useful and safer. While the system is still in its early stage, this paper provides details of the design, development, and integration process. It also outlines privacy safeguards, limitations, and planned improvements. The prototype serves as a foundation for future testing, expert review, and stronger security features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: | Engineering Source |
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