helloTali Overview Plan

Source: Dev.to

Background

After publishing my posts about helloTali, a number of people reached out privately with thoughtful suggestions—thank you! A recurring theme was a simple three‑pillar structure:

1. Education
2. Screeners & Monitoring
3. Referral & Next Steps

I’ve organised and summarised the key ideas here so I can move forward in a structured way.

Previous Posts

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Core Concept

helloTali is my non‑medical, privacy‑first hobby project.

• Version 1 – a simple mood check‑in to help people reflect on how they’re feeling over time.

• Version 2 – a “compassionate‑care” app built around the three‑pillar structure:

  1. Education – plain‑language mental‑health concepts.
  2. Screeners & Monitoring – lightweight self‑reflection (mood / stress patterns).
  3. Referral & Next Steps – guide users to appropriate support (what kind of professional to see, where to go).

Note: helloTali is not meant to diagnose, treat, or replace clinicians.

The Three Pillars

Pillar 1 — Education

Goal: Make mental‑health concepts clear, simple, and supportive without overwhelming people.

What This Includes

1. Plain‑language explainers

   • “What does a diagnosis mean (and what it doesn’t mean)?”
   • “Fight / flight / freeze / fawn (and why your body does this)”
   • “Common conditions explained in a neutral, non‑clinical way”
   • “What different professionals do (psychologist vs counsellor vs GP, etc.)”

2. Micro‑lessons / templates

   • Short lessons that are easy to read
   • Consistent structure and tone (so it doesn’t feel like random blog posts)

Example Content Style (from feedback)

A draft “What is a diagnosis?” explanation from a psychologist is a good example of the tone/style the education pillar needs: plain language, reassuring, and non‑stigmatising.

Key Design Principle

The content already exists in trusted places—the critical part is presentation:

• short, structured
• user‑friendly
• avoids jargon
• avoids “diagnosing” language

Pillar 2 — Screeners & Monitoring

Goal: Offer structured self‑checks and trend tracking.

Two Recommended Levels

1. Light daily check‑ins (optional)

   • “How are you feeling today?” — mood slider + tags
   • Optional short text note (reflection)

2. Weekly screener (validated)

   • Option A: PHQ‑9 + GAD‑7 (short, widely used)
   • Option B: DASS‑21 (depression/anxiety/stress; needs careful licensing check)

Important Constraint

For anything “validated”, the safest approach is to:

• ask standard questions
• use fixed response options
• apply standard scoring

(instead of free‑form AI interpreting text into scores)

Open Question to Resolve Early

Confirm software usage/licensing for DASS‑21 and any commercial constraints. If unclear, start with PHQ‑9 + GAD‑7.

Pillar 3 — Referral & Next Steps

Goal: Help users find appropriate support when they want it.

What “Referral” Means Here (Practical)

This is not a medical referral. It’s signposting + directory:

• “Who should I talk to next?”
• “What can each professional do / not do?”
• “Pros / cons of each option”
• “Find a clinician / counsellor directory”

Suggested Starting Point

Start the directory with counsellors first (often less bureaucracy), and expand later.

Phased Approach

1. Phase 1 (simple): “Next steps” page + links + guidance
2. Phase 2: Curated directory (invite a small group to join)
3. Phase 3: Self‑serve signup + verification process + location filters

Suggested MVP Roadmap

Keep the early build small and safe.

MVP 1 – Mood Check‑in + Trend Reflection

• Daily mood check‑in (slider + tags, optional short note)
• Trend view (weekly / monthly)
• Privacy‑first defaults + clear “not medical advice” wording
• Crisis‑support links (shown when needed)

MVP 2 – Education + One Screener + Next Steps

• Education portal (3–5 core modules) – e.g., diagnosis meaning, fight/flight/freeze/fawn, what professionals do, basics of stress/anxiety.
• Weekly screening – start with PHQ‑9 + GAD‑7 (or DASS‑21 if licensing is clear).
• Next steps – a simple guide + “find help” links (directory later).

This keeps the early build realistic while still supporting the bigger long‑term vision.

Safety, Ethics, and Wording Guardrails

These are the basic rules I will follow to keep helloTali safe and responsible:

1. No “you have X” language – the app will not tell users they have a specific condition.
2. Not medical advice / not a diagnosis – helloTali is for education and self‑reflection only.
3. Crisis safety message – if someone is in crisis or immediate danger, the app will clearly tell them to contact local emergency services or a crisis helpline.
4. Clear consent if any data is stored – users must opt‑in and understand what is stored and why.
5. Privacy‑first defaults – collect the minimum data needed; prefer storing scores and trends instead of raw sensitive text unless the user chooses otherwise.

Next Actions (Practical Checklist)

1. Pick initial screening instrument

   • Decide: PHQ‑9 + GAD‑7 vs DASS‑21
   • Confirm software usage/licensing for the chosen instrument.

2. Define the education templates

   • Recommended format for each education page:
     • What it is / what it isn’t / why it happens / what can help / when to seek help

3. Finalize MVP scope

   • Detail UI mock‑ups for mood check‑in, trend view, and education portal.

4. Set up privacy & consent flow

   • Draft consent wording and data‑storage policy.

5. Identify crisis‑support resources

   • Compile region‑specific helplines and embed them in the app.

End of document.

Write the “Next steps” guide

• A neutral explainer: GP vs counsellor vs psychologist vs psychiatrist

4. Build one vertical slice (end‑to‑end preview)
   • MVP1: Mood check‑in → Trend view
   • MVP2 (preview): Education module → (Optional) Screener flow → Next steps