Siblings create app to help prevent suicide

The app works by and the current GPS location of the user up to five pre-selected contacts. It is a “panic button” that allows the user to get support via text, phone call and GPS location.

Hannah was dealing with depression and anxiety, after being diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and then being bullied.

“Initially we created this app because I needed it. After I was diagnosed with POTS, I was bullied. I developed depression and bad anxiety and started to self-harm. During a suicide attempt, my mom came in and found me. She held me, and from that chaos, I got the idea. We call this app “my little Phoenix” because it’s something good arising from the ashes”, the app developer said.

The siblings built the app themselves. Charlie was always interested in programming and took online lessons, and Hannah went to a coding camp. Then they did some research, and realised that a lot of people were in need. “We went to the library often during summer break doing research on mental health. It was eye-opening. We created the app because we needed it, but the more research we did the more we found out how many people needed it. One in five kids have depression, and that’s just the kids who have talked about it or asked for help”, Hannah explained.

The app is free (with some paid features), it’s available for Android and iOS and the developers plan to expand it to other countries by translating in more languages.

notOK is endorsed by Born This Way Foundation and the American Association of Suicidology.

Adapted from: https://bit.ly/2HxO8Uj

More info: https://www.notokapp.com/