10020324Digital stress management solution for US College StudentsClosedCollaborative R&DInnovate UKLike many education establishments around the world, US Universities find that they under increased pressure to provide their students with robust mental health support services. The demand for mental health services for college students is increasing at a time when scarce resources make it very difficult for Universities to hire sufficient counsellors to meet the demand. The result is students having to wait weeks before a counsellor is available, or once treatment starts, students may be limited to a set number of sessions with the counsellor. This project is a feasibility study to look at the impact of providing a smartphone stress management resource to 2 cohorts of students. The first group will focus on students currently attending student counselling services for anxiety; the second group will focus on a group of college students who do not require counselling services but who identify as being anxious on a regular basis. In order to control the stress response, its important to learn how to manage the two systems involved in the stress response. It is simpler than it sounds. One of the most effective means to manage the stress response is to train the body to control the heart rhythms or heart rate variability (HRV) patterns, which in turn elicits a response in the nervous system and in turn regulation of stress hormones. TakeTen have developed a stress control App which gives real time feedback on the user's heart rhythms by placing a fingertip on the smartphone camera. The app reflects the heart rhythms on the app interface in one of 3 zones: \* the red zone reflects an unsettled or anxious state \* blue zone, a neutral state \* the green zone reflects a calm physiological & emotional state Essentially the App allows the user to "_**see their feelings**_". It trains the user to get into the green zone by creating emotional and physiological calm. Over time they develop more control over their nervous system and more effective coping strategies to deal with stress and anxiety. The proposed solution will allow for intervention and potential resolution of anxiety symptoms early in the pathway. It will allow individuals to self-manage symptoms at home, or at college. This in turn, will help to relieve the current pressure on student mental health services and allow those individuals who are in greater need of counselling to gain quicker access to the required services.