Sk Putrajaya Presint 11(1)

The Malaysian school that developed a mobile app to support mental health and wellbeing

SK Putrajaya Presint 11(1), a public primary school in WP Putrajaya, Malaysia, is breaking down the barriers attached to mental health and wellbeing with HELPIE, a mobile app, designed and developed by students for students, that makes mental health support accessible, interactive, engaging and most importantly, fun. With more than 1400 students in the school, mental health and wellbeing is a top priority, but a survey in 2023 revealed that 34% of students were experiencing stress, and 47% were struggling to express their emotions. It also found that students lacked self-awareness, did not know how to seek help, and were reluctant to share their struggles with their parents. 

Armed with these insights, a team of students and teachers collaborated to design, code and refine a mobile app to serve as a comprehensive stress management tool to help students understand and manage stress in an interactive and engaging way. Gamification makes emotional awareness fun and interesting, self-assessment tools help students easily see their current stress levels and identify emotional triggers and stress points, and a chat feature linked to an online therapist gives students quick access to guidance and counselling. Printed cards, paired with the app, provide guided activities that bring content into a real-world context, allowing children to play individually or in groups and encourage open discussions about emotions. To drive community involvement, a stress support system powered through the app organises awareness campaigns to provide a fully inclusive experience. Ensuring that students with limited digital resources are not left behind, the app is installed on school-provided tablets, which children can access throughout their school day.

Since implementation, the school has seen a 60% drop in student stress levels. More than 90% of students report having a better understanding of their emotions, and 87% say they understand their stress levels better. Teachers feel better equipped with tools to support students emotionally and have reported a 40% improvement in classroom behaviour, while parents and the broader community have become more involved in understanding and supporting children’s mental health and wellbeing. 

The initiative saw the school win the prestigious AIA Healthiest Schools Competition 2024. Efforts are underway to publish HELPIE  on Google Play so that it can be integrated into the counselling programmes of more schools.

By ensuring that technology and emotional awareness go hand-in-hand, SK Putrajaya Presint 11(1) has created a balanced and joyful space of learning where children feel safe and understood in an environment where they can thrive.