Why does it matter?
Imagine you are young, overwhelmed by the expectations of your parents, your friends, the world. You have no one you can talk to. Thoughts grow heavier, nights longer—and help feels far away. That’s exactly how many young people feel. The suicide prevention app SERO was developed to support adults in such moments. But so far, it hasn’t reached young people - because they don’t see themselves in it, because it doesn’t offer what they truly need. We want to change that.
We reach out directly to young people. We listen. We ask questions. Through conversations and workshops, we learn what can help them - and how the SERO app can support them.
Based on these insights, we adapt the app in concrete ways - its design, language, features, and user experience. The goal is to create an effective, low-threshold form of support that truly reaches young people in moments of crisis. This goal is simple and at the same time so important!
What do we want to achieve?
We’re working with adolescents, in a three-way dialogue involving adolescents, professionals, and families. Their experiences, emotions, and realities take centre stage. Through workshops, we’ll pinpoint how the app needs to adapt – maybe with a journal feature or daily check-ins? Practical emotion-regulation exercises? Language that resonates with young people? LGBTQ+-inclusive content?
We blend scientific methods with participatory design. Our close collaboration with Luzerner Psychiatrie gives us direct access to both youth and experts. The result? A solution that’s not just well-intentioned but actually used – and, above all, helpful.
Step by step.
To bring this project to life, we need financial support for:
– Planning and running 3 workshops and interviews with young people, professionals, and family members (CHF 6,000) – Scientific analysis of findings, designing and implementing new features (CHF 28,000) – Testing, optimisation, and promoting the SERO app to young people (CHF 6,000)
We’re taking a two-step approach to ensure progress:
- Workshops, concept development, and initial adjustments (total: CHF 20,000)
- New feature development and evaluation (total: CHF 20,000)
Our goal: Launch the app for young people in 2027. Help us create an app that can save lives – together, we can give young people extra support in moments of crisis.
