Entrevista 1

Interview on Depression and Anxiety in Peru

Introduction to the Research

• The interview aims to gather information regarding the increase in depression and anxiety levels among the Peruvian population.

• The goal is to explore personal experiences related to these issues, with a focus on finding potential solutions.

• Participants are encouraged to be honest, as there are no right or wrong answers; all insights will contribute significantly to the research.

Participant Background

• The participant, Jan Marcos, is 31 years old and resides in Villa María del Truz, Lima.

• He has been experiencing anxiety for approximately 13 years, primarily due to work-related stress in a call center environment.

Work Environment and Stress Factors

• Working in a call center involves continuous learning which can lead to feelings of inadequacy and increased anxiety over time.

• Personal circumstances, such as caring for a younger sibling while managing work responsibilities, have contributed significantly to his emotional struggles.

Daily Routine and Commute

• Jan describes his daily routine as monotonous: waking up early, commuting long distances (up to two hours each way), working at the call center, then returning home late at night.

• His commute adds considerable stress due to its length and unpredictability.

Triggers of Anxiety

• He identifies specific moments during his workday that heighten his anxiety: when emails pile up or during peak workload times in the afternoon.

• These situations create overwhelming pressure as he tries to manage customer inquiries effectively within tight deadlines.

Emotional Experience of Stress

• Jan describes his emotional state during stressful periods as feeling sad or overwhelmed with an urge to scream or take a break just to breathe deeply before continuing with tasks.

• He recognizes two main points throughout the day where he feels particularly stressed: when facing heavy workloads and accumulating tasks from earlier shifts.

Coping Strategies for Stress Management

• To cope with stress and anxiety, Jan employs strategies like delegating tasks at work so that responsibilities can be managed more efficiently within teams rather than individually handling everything weekly or bi-weekly.

• Outside of work, he finds relief by spending time outdoors walking with family and pets every Sunday—this helps him break free from routine monotony which can exacerbate feelings of confinement or boredom associated with stressors at work.

Managing Stress and Anxiety in a Demanding Work Environment

Effective Strategies for Coping with Stress

• Engaging in activities outside of work, such as going to the beach or watching movies, helps alleviate stress and anxiety by providing a mental break from demanding work schedules.

• Delegating tasks is essential for managing workload; however, there is a personal struggle with this due to ingrained beliefs about doing things oneself.

Impact of Stress on Personal Life

• Stress significantly affects personal relationships, leading to delayed responses to family messages because of being preoccupied with work responsibilities.

• The pressure from work can lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as overeating or increased water consumption, which may contribute to weight gain.

Challenging Customer Interactions

• A particularly stressful customer interaction lasted nearly two hours, highlighting the challenges faced in customer service roles when dealing with critical cases.

• Despite maintaining professionalism during heated exchanges, the emotional toll was evident as the client became increasingly frustrated and aggressive.

Emotional Responses and Coping Mechanisms

• After an intense call with an upset client, taking a moment away from the desk to wash one’s face and hydrate helped manage overwhelming feelings without resorting to outbursts.

• Recognizing when communication breaks down during stressful interactions is crucial; it leads to feelings of helplessness when clients do not understand explanations.

Seeking Professional Help

• Previous experiences with professional help included consultations with psychologists and psychiatrists but were deemed unhelpful due to lack of actionable advice.

• There was disappointment expressed regarding the support received from mental health professionals, indicating a need for more effective strategies tailored to individual needs.

Understanding Emotional Support Apps

The Need for Proper Attention in Mental Health

• The speaker emphasizes the importance of receiving appropriate attention in mental health, particularly from psychiatrists, acknowledging that some situations require specialist intervention.

Seeking Help and Resources

• The individual sought family support and researched their experiences to better understand their situation, highlighting the value of self-education in emotional well-being.

Digital Solutions During the Pandemic

• During the pandemic, the speaker explored various online resources but found many ineffective; they specifically mention a virtual assistant that did not meet their needs.

Frustrations with Existing Solutions

• A key frustration is that current solutions often provide generic advice without considering individual differences; people have unique ways of coping with stress and anxiety.

Alternatives to Standard Solutions

• The speaker suggests that alternatives should be tailored to personal experiences, allowing individuals to express their feelings and receive customized guidance.

The Role of Virtual Assistants in Mental Health

Understanding Individual Needs

• They discuss how psychologists interpret non-verbal cues during sessions but emphasize that self-description varies greatly among individuals.

Customization in Digital Tools

• There’s a call for digital tools (like virtual assistants) to offer diverse options based on user input, similar to how one might choose different cooking styles based on preference.

Desirable Features for Emotional Support Apps

Continuous Emotional Support

• The speaker envisions an app providing ongoing emotional support by understanding user profiles and offering personalized responses based on specific issues presented.

Human-Like Interaction

• They desire an app experience akin to conversing with a friend rather than interacting with a robotic interface; empathy and relatability are crucial for effective support.

Essential Functions for Daily Use

Morning Engagement

• An ideal app would greet users each morning with friendly messages about their sleep quality or general well-being, fostering a positive start to the day.

Afternoon Assistance

• Throughout the day, it should facilitate deeper conversations or provide solutions tailored to specific problems users may face.

Discussion on App Features and Emotional Support

User Experience and Feedback

• The user discusses their experience with a solution, asking for feedback on its effectiveness and whether it can provide consistent updates throughout the day.

• Inquiry about additional indispensable functions that could enhance the app's utility beyond what has already been mentioned.

Health Tracking Features

• Suggestion to incorporate a medical tracking feature that allows users to log daily feelings, similar to how smartwatches track physical activity.

• Emphasis on the importance of weekly statistics to monitor emotional well-being over time.

Dynamic Interaction Options

• Proposal for interactive games within the app that stimulate mental engagement while providing multifaceted functionalities.

• Discussion about needing professional assistance if issues become too complex, suggesting alerts for family or professionals when necessary.

Group Support Mechanisms

• The idea of group workshops where users can share experiences and support each other in dealing with similar challenges is introduced.

• Concept of focus groups where users interact with the app collectively, sharing insights on progress and challenges faced.

Pricing and Value Proposition

• User expresses willingness to pay 990 monthly for an emotional support app, comparing it favorably against other subscription services like streaming platforms.

• Suggestion for rewards or recognition systems within the app to motivate daily usage, such as earning prizes or achievements for overcoming challenges.

Recognition of Progress

• Importance of acknowledging user achievements through tangible rewards (e.g., chocolates or medals), enhancing motivation and personal satisfaction.

• Discussion on international health apps offering rewards for milestones achieved, advocating for similar features in this app to foster a supportive environment.

Conclusion and Privacy Assurance

• Final remarks emphasize confidentiality regarding user responses, ensuring that all shared information will remain private among participants involved in improving the application.

App Development for Mental Health Support

Addressing Anxiety and Depression

• The discussion begins with the need for an app that helps individuals manage anxiety and depression, which are prevalent in daily life.

• Stress from various aspects of life, including personal relationships and work, is highlighted as a significant contributor to mental health issues.

• The envisioned app aims to provide recreational solutions that feel personal rather than robotic, fostering a sense of understanding and support.

• There is an emphasis on the potential inclusion of professional support options within the app, such as access to psychologists or psychiatrists.

• Gratitude is expressed towards contributors who assist in developing this supportive tool for mental health.