The main function of a lighthouse is to guide ships. It illuminates and guides ships in the dark, at night, so that they arrive safely at their destination. Farol (lighthouse in Portuguese) is a service for those who want to help but don't know how; it offers support and guidance to friends, relatives and acquaintances of people who are depressed or at risk of suicide.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people worldwide. Yet there is still a great deal of social stigma attached to the issue. That's why we need to talk about it openly.
During the research phase for the development of this service, we delved deeper into the subject based on qualified sources on mental health in Brazil and around the world. At the same time, while researching the services already on the market, we noticed that there was no service specifically aimed at the people around people with suicidal tendencies (friends, family, etc.).
When we realised this was missing, the Lighthouse project was born with the aim of being a place of relevant information and dialogue. We believe that early detection and the right approach can save a life.
During the development phase, we defined the content of the lighthouse and its functions. We saw the need for the app to be a daily service that engages the user, where they can get informed and seek professional help. The presence of a map of mental health centres was always an essential design requirement, as was the presence of informative texts on how to deal with depression and suicide. The website was designed as an extension of this service.
+ Beatriz Zupo, Clara Gastelois, Marina Ester & Natália Mota
Risk Test: Based on the ADDS - Telessaúde RS app, the risk test aims to help with the superficial preliminary identification of depressive disorders and the risk of suicide in an acquaintance.
Diary: The diary is a section where the user can gather basic observations of the person at risk's diet, mood, dialogue and sleeping habits, generate a graph to track their progress and also write their own notes.
Tips and articles: This section has a compilation of articles, texts and tips on the subjects of depression and suicide, where users can bookmark their favourites and generate a list.
Map: The map section groups together places where mental health professionals can be found in the São Paulo region. You can filter the search by type of service - clinics, hospitals, CVVs (Centres for Valuing Life) and CAPS SUS (Psychosocial Care Centres), or by region. Users can also mark their favourite places on the map and generate a list.
Website: The farol website is a portal where you can find more extensive texts and articles on the subjects of depression and suicide. It also contains a complete map of centres of care.
Farol App always wants to remind users of the importance of consulting a professional in the field and never self-diagnosing or diagnosing others. Its aim is to provide a safe and welcoming place for people in difficult situations and to be another important tool in the fight against suicide.
