As UK university students report higher levels of mental illness than ever before, the Fika app is mainstreaming the concept of emotional fitness, empowering students to support themselves and each other through exercises in emotional resilience. With public health services often over-subscribed, Fika taps into the growing number of people seeking alternative avenues of support, such as health-tech and peer-to-peer networks. We explore the insights behind how technology is transforming attitudes to wellbeing.
After two years of close consultation with scientists, psychologists, technologists and university students, Fika has created a plan of over 200 emotional exercises for students to complete by themselves and in a group. These will help users develop a range of useful skills, from communication and active listening to resilience and problem-solving. Central to the start-up’s philosophy is the idea that most young people can play a significant role in the management of their own mental wellbeing, without needing to rely on counselling or other medical intervention.
Whereas media headlines shout about a ‘student mental health crisis’, Fika co-founder Nick Bennett suggests that the rising level of reported mental illness among students is due to increased awareness and cultural conversation surrounding the topic in recent years, rather than an actual rise in prevalence. “We are not experiencing a crisis of mental health, but rather a crisis of mis-labelling,” explains Bennett. “Statistically, there’s been no growth in clinical mental illnesses such as bipolar and schizophrenia in recent years – dealing with life is where people are struggling.” By encouraging students to incorporate five minutes of emotional fitness into their daily routine, Fika hopes to change this, equipping users with the tools to navigate the pressures of early adult living.
Given that 94% of university counselling services experienced increased demand between 2012 and 2017, and with lengthy waiting lists leaving students hanging for up to three months for an appointment, there is clearly a demand for apps like Fika that can alleviate the burden on over-strained public services. The BBC is also moving into this space, having developed Own It, an app that gives Gen Zers real-time mental health advice by using machine learning to evaluate a user's mood. Similarly, The Student Room has developed Enlitened, an app for students that incentivises university participation by rewarding users with coins that can be redeemed at campus cafés. By playing to the strengths and preferences of younger generations, peer-to-peer networks and tech-based solutions are answering a demand for discreet and accessible mental health support.
Lottie Hanwell is a junior behavioural analyst. She loves travelling, reading novels, cuddling dogs and hosting dinner parties. A graduate of Engish Literature and Spanish, she’s adventured through South and Central America where she developed a taste for Argentine malbec and dodgy reggaeton. Now settled back in London, she hopes to translate her fondness of people-watching to her role at Canvas8.
