Ora

Our mental health system responds to crisis only

The system is reactive rather than proactive. There is less access to the resources to prevent a person from getting to the point where they require mental health services — we come in too late.

Mapping the journey to identify opportunities

By mapping the experience of young New Zealanders, we identified how Ora could support them before, during and after mental health distress.

Building off evidence-based therapies and wellbeing models

Through workshops we learned that many young New Zealanders were taught or knew of wellbeing concepts. But surprisingly, most didn't know how to incorporate them in their day to day lives.

Bringing Te Whare Tapa Whā to life through a plant analogy

We chose a plant analogy, as plants need care and attention in order to thrive — just like our health. Young New Zealanders are encouraged to ‘level up’ their plants, building holistic wellbeing habits at their own pace.

Gamifying healthy habits to build self-awareness

Through gamification, Ora encourages people to build habits and self-awareness — a key aspect of evidenced-based tools such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

Ora — a proactive and evidence-based service that equips young New Zealanders with the tools they need for increased self-awareness and resilience.

Ora shows how design can contribute to mitigating New Zealand's mental health crisis. Through a proactive, evidence-based system, it helps support young New Zealanders develop their resilience and self-awareness.

"The Ora project is among the most rigorously researched, and well refined projects to emerge from a New Zealand design school."

— Karl Kane, Senior Lecturer at Massey University