Noribot

The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified mental health conditions as a leading cause of disability globally, affecting individuals of all ages, including young adults. An estimated 1.2 billion people worldwide are impacted by mental health conditions. The WHO reports that half of all mental health conditions start by age 14, and three-quarters begin by age 24. Approximately 20% of young adults worldwide are living with a mental health condition. 

In complex political contexts such as Sudan, young adults are particularly vulnerable to mental health problems. Studies have shown that university students are at a higher risk of psychological distress, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and suicidal ideation than age-matched peers from the general population. In Sudan, the prevalence of depression among university students is higher than in other countries in the region, with 56% of students at the University of Khartoum experiencing psychiatric morbidity. Additionally, substance abuse is on the rise in Sudan, and university students face constant pressure due to socio-political instability, violence and conflict, repeated college closures, and the country's deteriorating economic situation.

Despite the high prevalence of mental health problems among Sudanese university students and young adults, access to mental health care remains inadequate. Mental health facilities are only available in a few large cities, exacerbating the situation's perceived barriers, including stigma, lack of trust in care providers, and a preference for self-help.

An Arabic mental health chatbot for university students in Sudan could potentially address the country's mental health challenges. The telegram-based Noribot offers a range of features, such as mental health self-assessment, to help students gain insight into their current mental health status and identify any potential stress or anxiety issues they may be experiencing. The chatbot helps individuals evaluate their mental health to determine if they need to consult with a psychiatrist. In cases where an individual experiences symptoms, the chatbot offers a preliminary diagnosis and provide guidance on what to do next. 

The chatbot prototype would be upgraded to provide a safe and confidential space for students to discuss their mental health concerns without fear of stigma or discrimination. After further development, the core feature of the chatbot would be its ability to provide emotional support, listen to students, and offer them advice and resources to manage their mental health. The chatbot could also provide self-help resources, psychoeducation, and referral to mental health professionals. The chatbot could be customized for different universities in Sudan to address any specific needs or challenges that are unique to each institution. 

The population of this chatbot is university students in Sudan who are experiencing mental health challenges. This population is diverse, with students from various backgrounds, ethnicities, and socioeconomic status. Most of the students are facing pressures associated with political instability and war. Some students may be struggling with academic pressure, while others may be dealing with personal issues such as family problems, relationship issues, or financial difficulties. Additionally, some students may be dealing with mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression.

The chatbot has the potential to impact the lives of these students by providing a safe and confidential space for students to discuss their mental health concerns. This can be particularly helpful for students who may feel stigmatized or ashamed to seek help for their mental health issues. By providing a non-judgmental and supportive environment, the chatbot can help reduce the barriers to seeking help and encourage more students to take action towards improving their mental health.

The chatbot offers a range of features that can help students gain insight into their mental health status, evaluate their symptoms, and determine if they need to seek professional help. This can be particularly helpful for students who may not have access to mental health resources or who may not be aware of the signs and symptoms of mental health conditions.

We conducted research among university students to assess their mental health situation (https://www.scirp.org/pdf/ojpsych_2022102513514785.pdf)

and their willingness to use digital mental health solutions. Our studies revealed that the majority of respondents expressed interest in seeking online mental health information, and were willing to try teleconsultation for mental health treatment. In addition, about a third of the respondents were open to using a mental health mobile application.

Our research provides compelling evidence that there is a growing interest in digital mental health solutions, and we believe that our team's expertise in this area positions us well to deliver a successful solution.

The Nori chatbot prototype was developed and deployed on Telegram. The chatbot utilized simple language that was easily understood by its target audience and included an introductory section that explained its purpose and terms of use. Twenty university students from Khartoum were recruited in a study to assess the acceptance to the chatbot. The results showed that the mental health chatbot was well-received by the participants, indicating that chatbots may be a promising tool for providing accessible and confidential mental health support to university students in Sudan.

We piloted the Noribot prototype  in 20 university students in Sudan. 

The Noribot could potentially serve a large number of users given the size of the student population in the country. According to UNESCO, there were over 1.8 million students enrolled in higher education institutions in Sudan in 2019 (https://uis.unesco.org/en/country/sd), and this number is expected to continue growing in the coming years.

As we develop and expand our mental health chatbot project, we recognize that connecting with relevant organizations will be essential for its success. However, we anticipate encountering several barriers that we hope MIT Solve can help us overcome. Technical barriers, such as further developing the chatbot and ensuring it's usability and accessibility. We would appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with technical partners to ensure the chatbot's development and smooth operation. Financial barriers may arise as we seek to secure funding for the project's development and expansion. We hope Solve can connect us with partners who can provide the necessary financial support to advance the project. We believe that Solve's network and resources can help us overcome these potential barriers and advance our solution.

The Noribot for mental health for university students in Sudan is innovative for several reasons:

·         Addresses a pressing need: Mental health challenges are a significant issue in Sudan, and there is a lack of access to mental health services, particularly for university students.

·         Use of technology: The chatbot leverages the power of technology to provide mental health support to students. It uses natural language processing to enable students to communicate with it in an intuitive and user-friendly way.

·         Customized approach to mental health support that is tailored to the needs of university students in Sudan.

·         Reduction of stigma: By providing a safe and confidential space for students to discuss their mental health concerns, the chatbot helps reduce the stigma associated with mental health in Sudan. This, in turn, could encourage more students to seek help for mental health issues and increase awareness of mental health challenges in the country.

Short-term goals (Next year):

·         To increase awareness of the chatbot among the university students in Sudan.

·         To ensure user engagement and that the chatbot is being used effectively by the university students.

·         To create partnerships with mental health organizations in Sudan.

Long-term goals (Next five years):

·         To make the chatbot available to a wider audience beyond university students in Sudan. The chatbot could be scaled up to serve other groups such as high school students, refugees, and internally displaced persons and audiences in other North Africa and Middle east countries.

·         To analyze the data collected by the chatbot to gain insights into mental health trends and patterns in Sudan. This data could be used to inform mental health policies and practices in the country.

·         To achieve financial sustainability.

Indicators:

- User engagement metrics.

- User satisfaction.

- Number of partnerships with mental health organizations, universities, and other stakeholders in Sudan.

Theory of change:

Inputs: funding, technological infrastructure, and partnerships with mental health organizations and universities in Sudan.

Activities:

a-  Develop a user-friendly chatbot interface.

b- Incorporate a range of mental health services.

c- Promote the chatbot through social media and online campaigns, partnerships with universities and student organizations, and other marketing strategies.

d- Monitor and evaluate the chatbot's user engagement metrics and solicit feedback from users to identify areas for improvement.

e- Analyze the data collected by the chatbot to gain insights into mental health trends and patterns in Sudan.

Outputs:

1- A functional Arabic mental health chatbot that can be accessed via social media, a website, or mobile application.

2- Increased awareness of mental health challenges and services among university students in Sudan.

3- Data that can be used to inform mental health policies and practices in the country.

Outcomes:

1- Increased access to mental health services for university students in Sudan.

2- Reduced stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health issues in the country.

3- Improved mental health outcomes among university students in Sudan.

4- Increased awareness of mental health issues and services among other groups in Sudan, such as high school students, refugees, and internally displaced persons.

Impact: The chatbot project's ultimate impact will be to contribute to improving mental health outcomes and reducing the burden of mental health challenges in Sudan.