UI / UX Design
Designing a Safe Space to Speak Up
Built “Unreveald,” an anonymous mental health platform that reached 10,000+ users by creating trust and community in a culture that often stays silent
Year :
2025
Industry :
Mental Health
Client :
In-house Product
Project Duration :
6 months
Project Overview
In 2022-2023, I served as Product Owner and UX Lead for Unreveald, India's first privacy-focused mental health community platform. Recognizing that cultural stigma prevents millions of Indians from seeking mental health support, I designed an anonymous, safe-space platform that achieved 10,000+ sign-ups and 5,000 monthly active users within 90 days—significantly outperforming industry benchmarks.
Duration: 12 months (2022-2023)
My Role: Product Owner & UX Lead
Impact: 10,000+ sign-ups, 5,000 MAU, national press coverage
Key Innovation: Cultural stigma-aware design with privacy-by-design architecture
The Mental Health Crisis in Cultural Context
The Scale of the Problem
India contributes 18% of the global population but carries a disproportionate mental health burden. With 150 million Indians needing mental health care but only 30 million seeking help, the treatment gap stands at a staggering 80%. The numbers are even more alarming:
56+ million Indians suffer from depression—the highest globally
One in 20 Indians suffers from depression
Suicide rate of 12.4 per 100,000 people—the highest since 1967
Only 0.75 psychiatrists per 100,000 people (WHO recommends 3 per 100,000)
Cultural Barriers: "Log Kya Kahenge?"
Through my one-on-one user research, I discovered that the phrase "log kya kahenge?" (what will people say?) emerged in every single interview. This singular cultural precept shapes mental health decisions across gender, caste, religion, and socioeconomic lines.
Key Cultural Insights:
Family reputation over individual needs: Mental health issues are seen as reflecting badly on entire families, not just individuals
Marriage stigma: Mental health history can ruin marriage prospects, leading to secrecy and delayed treatment
Spiritual misattribution: Mental illness often attributed to "lack of discipline," "evil spirits," or "black magic"
Gender-specific barriers: Traditional masculine roles prevent men from seeking help; women face additional scrutiny about stability
My Role & Research Approach
As Product Owner and UX Lead, I took full ownership of the user experience strategy, from initial concept through post-launch iteration. Working with a small engineering team, I was responsible for:
Strategic UX vision and product roadmap
User research and cultural insight gathering
Information architecture and interaction design
Privacy-first UX patterns and anonymity systems
Community guidelines and moderation strategy
Research Methodology
Quantitative Research: Conducted one-on-one interviews with 25+ potential users across demographics to understand stigma manifestation and help-seeking barriers.
Qualitative Internet Research: Analyzed mental health discussions across Indian forums, social media, and support groups to identify language patterns, concerns, and unmet needs.
Cultural Context Analysis: Studied existing research on Indian mental health stigma, family dynamics, and privacy expectations to inform design decisions.
UX Strategy: Designing for Cultural Safety
Core Design Principles
Based on my research into mental health UX best practices and Indian cultural context, I established five foundational principles:
1. Privacy-by-Design Architecture
End-to-end encryption for all communications
Zero personal data collection during onboarding
Anonymous account creation with no email/phone requirements
Secure data handling with transparent privacy policies
2. Cultural Stigma Mitigation
Anonymous posting and interaction to eliminate judgment fears
No profile pictures or real names to prevent identification
Family-safe language avoiding clinical terminology that triggers shame
Discrete notifications that don't reveal mental health content
3. Community-First Safety
Moderated forums with trained community managers
Peer support groups organized by interests, not diagnoses
Professional resource hub with vetted mental health information
Crisis intervention protocols for users in distress
4. Progressive Disclosure
Simple onboarding that doesn't overwhelm anxious users
Optional feature adoption allowing gradual engagement
Contextual help appearing only when needed
Customizable privacy controls for user agency
5. Emotional Safety Design
Calming visual design with soft colors and minimal UI
Trigger warning systems for sensitive content
Empathetic microcopy using non-judgmental language
Multiple content moderation layers to prevent harmful interactions
Key Design Solutions
Anonymous Identity System
Challenge: Users needed to feel completely anonymous while still enabling meaningful community connections.
Solution: Designed a persistent anonymous identity system where users choose color-based usernames (e.g., "Gentle Blue," "Quiet Green") that remain consistent across sessions while revealing no personal information. This pattern, inspired by successful anonymous platforms, allows users to build relationships and reputation without sacrificing privacy.
Three-Tier Community Architecture
1. Open Forums - "Share Safely"
Public anonymous posting on topics like anxiety, depression, workplace stress
Community moderation with trained volunteer moderators
Upvoting system to surface helpful content without revealing voter identity
2. Private Support Groups - "Connect Deeply"
Interest-based groups (e.g., "New Parents," "Career Stress," "Students") rather than diagnosis-focused
Invite-only spaces with enhanced privacy controls
Peer mentorship programs matching experienced users with newcomers
3. Resource Hub - "Learn Privately"
Curated mental health information from licensed professionals
Self-help tools and coping strategies
Anonymous professional consultation booking system
Content Moderation & Safety
Hybrid Moderation System
Drawing from content moderation best practices, I implemented a three-layer safety system:
Layer 1: AI-Powered Pre-screening
Keyword filtering for harmful content and spam
Sentiment analysis to flag potential crisis situations
Automated triggers for mental health resources when distress detected
Layer 2: Community Self-Moderation
User reporting system with clear guidelines
Peer moderation by trusted community members
Transparent moderation actions with explanations
Layer 3: Professional Oversight
Licensed counselor review for crisis situations
Escalation protocols for users expressing suicidal ideation
Regular community health assessments by mental health professionals
Trigger Warning & Content Safety
Implemented comprehensive trigger warning systems based on UX best practices for sensitive content:
Content warnings before potentially triggering posts
Blurred overlay system for sensitive images
User-controlled content filtering by topic
Safe word protocols for crisis situations
Onboarding for Vulnerable Users
Anxiety-Aware Onboarding
Recognising that users might be experiencing anxiety or depression when first using the app, I designed a gentle, progressive onboarding that builds trust gradually:
Step 1: Welcome & Safety (30 seconds)
Warm, non-clinical welcome message
Clear privacy commitment upfront
Optional community guidelines tour
Step 2: Anonymous Setup (60 seconds)
Color-based username selection
Basic privacy preferences
Optional notification settings
Step 3: Community Exploration (Self-paced)
Guided tour of forum categories
Sample posts and conversations
"Lurker mode" for read-only access initially
Trust-Building Elements
Transparency about data use with plain-language privacy policy
Community testimonials (anonymous) about positive experiences
Professional endorsements from licensed therapists
Clear moderation policies to ensure safety
Measuring Success & Impact
Quantitative Results
Metric | Industry Benchmark | Unreveald Performance | Achievement |
Sign-ups (90 days) | 1,000-5,000 for new platforms | 10,000+ | 2-10x above benchmark |
Monthly Active Users | 3.3% retention at 30 days | 5,000 MAU (50% of signups) | 15x above industry average |
Daily Engagement | 4% daily active users | ~17% daily active rate | 4x above industry average |
User Retention | 3.9% at 15 days | ~65% at 15 days | 16x above industry average |
Our success metrics aligned more closely with employer-provided mental health platforms (51-60% retention) than consumer apps, suggesting our community-first approach created enterprise-level engagement.
Qualitative Success Indicators
Community Health Metrics:
Peer support network formation: 80% of active users participated in mutual support
Crisis intervention success: 100% of flagged crisis situations received appropriate support
Content quality: <2% of posts required moderation action after initial 3 months
Professional validation: Endorsements from 5+ licensed mental health professionals
National Recognition
Press coverage in major Indian publications highlighting platform's cultural innovation
Mental health organization partnerships for resource sharing
Academic interest from researchers studying digital mental health in India
Key Design Challenges & Solutions
Challenge 1: Balancing Anonymity with Accountability
Problem: Complete anonymity could enable abuse while accountability might discourage authentic sharing.
Solution: Implemented graduated anonymity system:
Public forums: Fully anonymous with community moderation
Support groups: Persistent usernames with reputation scores
Private conversations: Option for verified anonymous accounts
Crisis situations: Secure professional contact protocols
Challenge 2: Cultural Sensitivity at Scale
Problem: Indian culture varies significantly by region, religion, and language—how to be inclusive while remaining culturally aware?
Solution: Community-driven cultural adaptation:
Regional community moderators who understand local cultural nuances
Multi-language support for Hindi and English with culturally appropriate translations
Flexible community guidelines that adapt to different cultural contexts
Local mental health resource integration varying by geography
Challenge 3: Professional Integration Without Stigma
Problem: Users wanted access to professional help but feared being identified or judged.
Solution: Anonymous professional consultation system:
Anonymous booking through platform with encrypted communications
Professional verification without revealing user identity
Sliding scale fees to address economic barriers
Follow-up support through platform's secure messaging
Technical Innovation: Privacy-First Architecture
Zero-Knowledge Community Platform
Inspired by privacy-first design patterns, I architected a system where platform operators couldn't identify users even if required by law:
Encrypted user data with keys held only by users
Anonymous analytics that tracked engagement without personal identification
Distributed moderation where no single entity had complete user information
Self-destructing data options for users who wanted to leave permanently
Mobile-First Responsive Design
Recognizing that mobile usage is dominant in India, especially among younger demographics struggling with mental health:
Touch-first interaction design with 44px+ touch targets
Offline reading capabilities for users with limited data plans
Low-bandwidth optimized for slower internet connections
Battery-efficient design to not drain older devices
Lessons Learned & Key Insights
1. Cultural Research is Product Research
Understanding "log kya kahenge" wasn't just cultural context—it was the core product requirement. The platform's success stemmed from designing specifically for Indian cultural barriers, not adapting Western mental health app patterns.
2. Community Beats Features
While I initially focused on features like mood tracking and journaling, peer support forums drove 90% of engagement. Users came for tools but stayed for community—a finding that aligns with research showing peer support apps have the highest retention rates.
3. Privacy Enables Authenticity
Complete anonymity didn't lead to abuse—it led to unprecedented authenticity. When users felt truly safe, they shared more honestly and supported each other more effectively than in identified spaces.
4. Professional Integration Requires Trust
Users wanted professional help but needed gradual trust-building. The most successful feature was the anonymous Q&A with verified therapists, which let users test professional interactions before committing to formal therapy.
5. Moderation is Mental Health Care
Content moderation in a mental health community isn't just about safety—it's a form of care delivery. Our community moderators, trained in basic mental health support, often provided the first positive intervention users experienced.
Long-term Impact & Sustainability
Creating a Mental Health Movement
Unreveald demonstrated that cultural barriers could be overcome through thoughtful design. The platform's success influenced other Indian mental health initiatives to adopt privacy-first, culturally-aware approaches.
Scaling Cultural Innovation
The design patterns we developed—anonymous persistent identity, cultural context-aware moderation, and stigma-sensitive onboarding—have been adopted by other platforms addressing sensitive topics in conservative cultures.
Professional Ecosystem Development
By creating a bridge between anonymous users and verified professionals, Unreveald helped normalize mental health support and provided professionals with a new model for reaching reluctant populations.
Future Applications & Learnings
The UX principles and cultural insights from Unreveald are applicable beyond mental health to any sensitive, stigmatized topic in conservative cultures:
Sexual health education in traditional societies
Domestic violence support with safety concerns
LGBTQ+ community building in non-accepting environments
Addiction recovery with family shame concerns
Key Transferable UX Patterns:
Cultural stigma-aware onboarding
Graduated privacy controls
Anonymous professional integration
Community-driven moderation
Trust-building through transparency
Technical Skills Demonstrated: Cultural UX Research, Privacy-First Design, Community Platform Architecture, Content Moderation Systems, Anonymous Identity Design, Mobile-First Responsive Design, Inclusive Design for Sensitive Topics
Unreveald represents my approach to UX design for sensitive, culturally complex challenges—combining deep empathy research with innovative privacy technology to create platforms that serve vulnerable populations while respecting cultural context and individual dignity.
More Projects
UI / UX Design
Designing a Safe Space to Speak Up
Built “Unreveald,” an anonymous mental health platform that reached 10,000+ users by creating trust and community in a culture that often stays silent
Year :
2025
Industry :
Mental Health
Client :
In-house Product
Project Duration :
6 months
Project Overview
In 2022-2023, I served as Product Owner and UX Lead for Unreveald, India's first privacy-focused mental health community platform. Recognizing that cultural stigma prevents millions of Indians from seeking mental health support, I designed an anonymous, safe-space platform that achieved 10,000+ sign-ups and 5,000 monthly active users within 90 days—significantly outperforming industry benchmarks.
Duration: 12 months (2022-2023)
My Role: Product Owner & UX Lead
Impact: 10,000+ sign-ups, 5,000 MAU, national press coverage
Key Innovation: Cultural stigma-aware design with privacy-by-design architecture
The Mental Health Crisis in Cultural Context
The Scale of the Problem
India contributes 18% of the global population but carries a disproportionate mental health burden. With 150 million Indians needing mental health care but only 30 million seeking help, the treatment gap stands at a staggering 80%. The numbers are even more alarming:
56+ million Indians suffer from depression—the highest globally
One in 20 Indians suffers from depression
Suicide rate of 12.4 per 100,000 people—the highest since 1967
Only 0.75 psychiatrists per 100,000 people (WHO recommends 3 per 100,000)
Cultural Barriers: "Log Kya Kahenge?"
Through my one-on-one user research, I discovered that the phrase "log kya kahenge?" (what will people say?) emerged in every single interview. This singular cultural precept shapes mental health decisions across gender, caste, religion, and socioeconomic lines.
Key Cultural Insights:
Family reputation over individual needs: Mental health issues are seen as reflecting badly on entire families, not just individuals
Marriage stigma: Mental health history can ruin marriage prospects, leading to secrecy and delayed treatment
Spiritual misattribution: Mental illness often attributed to "lack of discipline," "evil spirits," or "black magic"
Gender-specific barriers: Traditional masculine roles prevent men from seeking help; women face additional scrutiny about stability
My Role & Research Approach
As Product Owner and UX Lead, I took full ownership of the user experience strategy, from initial concept through post-launch iteration. Working with a small engineering team, I was responsible for:
Strategic UX vision and product roadmap
User research and cultural insight gathering
Information architecture and interaction design
Privacy-first UX patterns and anonymity systems
Community guidelines and moderation strategy
Research Methodology
Quantitative Research: Conducted one-on-one interviews with 25+ potential users across demographics to understand stigma manifestation and help-seeking barriers.
Qualitative Internet Research: Analyzed mental health discussions across Indian forums, social media, and support groups to identify language patterns, concerns, and unmet needs.
Cultural Context Analysis: Studied existing research on Indian mental health stigma, family dynamics, and privacy expectations to inform design decisions.
UX Strategy: Designing for Cultural Safety
Core Design Principles
Based on my research into mental health UX best practices and Indian cultural context, I established five foundational principles:
1. Privacy-by-Design Architecture
End-to-end encryption for all communications
Zero personal data collection during onboarding
Anonymous account creation with no email/phone requirements
Secure data handling with transparent privacy policies
2. Cultural Stigma Mitigation
Anonymous posting and interaction to eliminate judgment fears
No profile pictures or real names to prevent identification
Family-safe language avoiding clinical terminology that triggers shame
Discrete notifications that don't reveal mental health content
3. Community-First Safety
Moderated forums with trained community managers
Peer support groups organized by interests, not diagnoses
Professional resource hub with vetted mental health information
Crisis intervention protocols for users in distress
4. Progressive Disclosure
Simple onboarding that doesn't overwhelm anxious users
Optional feature adoption allowing gradual engagement
Contextual help appearing only when needed
Customizable privacy controls for user agency
5. Emotional Safety Design
Calming visual design with soft colors and minimal UI
Trigger warning systems for sensitive content
Empathetic microcopy using non-judgmental language
Multiple content moderation layers to prevent harmful interactions
Key Design Solutions
Anonymous Identity System
Challenge: Users needed to feel completely anonymous while still enabling meaningful community connections.
Solution: Designed a persistent anonymous identity system where users choose color-based usernames (e.g., "Gentle Blue," "Quiet Green") that remain consistent across sessions while revealing no personal information. This pattern, inspired by successful anonymous platforms, allows users to build relationships and reputation without sacrificing privacy.
Three-Tier Community Architecture
1. Open Forums - "Share Safely"
Public anonymous posting on topics like anxiety, depression, workplace stress
Community moderation with trained volunteer moderators
Upvoting system to surface helpful content without revealing voter identity
2. Private Support Groups - "Connect Deeply"
Interest-based groups (e.g., "New Parents," "Career Stress," "Students") rather than diagnosis-focused
Invite-only spaces with enhanced privacy controls
Peer mentorship programs matching experienced users with newcomers
3. Resource Hub - "Learn Privately"
Curated mental health information from licensed professionals
Self-help tools and coping strategies
Anonymous professional consultation booking system
Content Moderation & Safety
Hybrid Moderation System
Drawing from content moderation best practices, I implemented a three-layer safety system:
Layer 1: AI-Powered Pre-screening
Keyword filtering for harmful content and spam
Sentiment analysis to flag potential crisis situations
Automated triggers for mental health resources when distress detected
Layer 2: Community Self-Moderation
User reporting system with clear guidelines
Peer moderation by trusted community members
Transparent moderation actions with explanations
Layer 3: Professional Oversight
Licensed counselor review for crisis situations
Escalation protocols for users expressing suicidal ideation
Regular community health assessments by mental health professionals
Trigger Warning & Content Safety
Implemented comprehensive trigger warning systems based on UX best practices for sensitive content:
Content warnings before potentially triggering posts
Blurred overlay system for sensitive images
User-controlled content filtering by topic
Safe word protocols for crisis situations
Onboarding for Vulnerable Users
Anxiety-Aware Onboarding
Recognising that users might be experiencing anxiety or depression when first using the app, I designed a gentle, progressive onboarding that builds trust gradually:
Step 1: Welcome & Safety (30 seconds)
Warm, non-clinical welcome message
Clear privacy commitment upfront
Optional community guidelines tour
Step 2: Anonymous Setup (60 seconds)
Color-based username selection
Basic privacy preferences
Optional notification settings
Step 3: Community Exploration (Self-paced)
Guided tour of forum categories
Sample posts and conversations
"Lurker mode" for read-only access initially
Trust-Building Elements
Transparency about data use with plain-language privacy policy
Community testimonials (anonymous) about positive experiences
Professional endorsements from licensed therapists
Clear moderation policies to ensure safety
Measuring Success & Impact
Quantitative Results
Metric | Industry Benchmark | Unreveald Performance | Achievement |
Sign-ups (90 days) | 1,000-5,000 for new platforms | 10,000+ | 2-10x above benchmark |
Monthly Active Users | 3.3% retention at 30 days | 5,000 MAU (50% of signups) | 15x above industry average |
Daily Engagement | 4% daily active users | ~17% daily active rate | 4x above industry average |
User Retention | 3.9% at 15 days | ~65% at 15 days | 16x above industry average |
Our success metrics aligned more closely with employer-provided mental health platforms (51-60% retention) than consumer apps, suggesting our community-first approach created enterprise-level engagement.
Qualitative Success Indicators
Community Health Metrics:
Peer support network formation: 80% of active users participated in mutual support
Crisis intervention success: 100% of flagged crisis situations received appropriate support
Content quality: <2% of posts required moderation action after initial 3 months
Professional validation: Endorsements from 5+ licensed mental health professionals
National Recognition
Press coverage in major Indian publications highlighting platform's cultural innovation
Mental health organization partnerships for resource sharing
Academic interest from researchers studying digital mental health in India
Key Design Challenges & Solutions
Challenge 1: Balancing Anonymity with Accountability
Problem: Complete anonymity could enable abuse while accountability might discourage authentic sharing.
Solution: Implemented graduated anonymity system:
Public forums: Fully anonymous with community moderation
Support groups: Persistent usernames with reputation scores
Private conversations: Option for verified anonymous accounts
Crisis situations: Secure professional contact protocols
Challenge 2: Cultural Sensitivity at Scale
Problem: Indian culture varies significantly by region, religion, and language—how to be inclusive while remaining culturally aware?
Solution: Community-driven cultural adaptation:
Regional community moderators who understand local cultural nuances
Multi-language support for Hindi and English with culturally appropriate translations
Flexible community guidelines that adapt to different cultural contexts
Local mental health resource integration varying by geography
Challenge 3: Professional Integration Without Stigma
Problem: Users wanted access to professional help but feared being identified or judged.
Solution: Anonymous professional consultation system:
Anonymous booking through platform with encrypted communications
Professional verification without revealing user identity
Sliding scale fees to address economic barriers
Follow-up support through platform's secure messaging
Technical Innovation: Privacy-First Architecture
Zero-Knowledge Community Platform
Inspired by privacy-first design patterns, I architected a system where platform operators couldn't identify users even if required by law:
Encrypted user data with keys held only by users
Anonymous analytics that tracked engagement without personal identification
Distributed moderation where no single entity had complete user information
Self-destructing data options for users who wanted to leave permanently
Mobile-First Responsive Design
Recognizing that mobile usage is dominant in India, especially among younger demographics struggling with mental health:
Touch-first interaction design with 44px+ touch targets
Offline reading capabilities for users with limited data plans
Low-bandwidth optimized for slower internet connections
Battery-efficient design to not drain older devices
Lessons Learned & Key Insights
1. Cultural Research is Product Research
Understanding "log kya kahenge" wasn't just cultural context—it was the core product requirement. The platform's success stemmed from designing specifically for Indian cultural barriers, not adapting Western mental health app patterns.
2. Community Beats Features
While I initially focused on features like mood tracking and journaling, peer support forums drove 90% of engagement. Users came for tools but stayed for community—a finding that aligns with research showing peer support apps have the highest retention rates.
3. Privacy Enables Authenticity
Complete anonymity didn't lead to abuse—it led to unprecedented authenticity. When users felt truly safe, they shared more honestly and supported each other more effectively than in identified spaces.
4. Professional Integration Requires Trust
Users wanted professional help but needed gradual trust-building. The most successful feature was the anonymous Q&A with verified therapists, which let users test professional interactions before committing to formal therapy.
5. Moderation is Mental Health Care
Content moderation in a mental health community isn't just about safety—it's a form of care delivery. Our community moderators, trained in basic mental health support, often provided the first positive intervention users experienced.
Long-term Impact & Sustainability
Creating a Mental Health Movement
Unreveald demonstrated that cultural barriers could be overcome through thoughtful design. The platform's success influenced other Indian mental health initiatives to adopt privacy-first, culturally-aware approaches.
Scaling Cultural Innovation
The design patterns we developed—anonymous persistent identity, cultural context-aware moderation, and stigma-sensitive onboarding—have been adopted by other platforms addressing sensitive topics in conservative cultures.
Professional Ecosystem Development
By creating a bridge between anonymous users and verified professionals, Unreveald helped normalize mental health support and provided professionals with a new model for reaching reluctant populations.
Future Applications & Learnings
The UX principles and cultural insights from Unreveald are applicable beyond mental health to any sensitive, stigmatized topic in conservative cultures:
Sexual health education in traditional societies
Domestic violence support with safety concerns
LGBTQ+ community building in non-accepting environments
Addiction recovery with family shame concerns
Key Transferable UX Patterns:
Cultural stigma-aware onboarding
Graduated privacy controls
Anonymous professional integration
Community-driven moderation
Trust-building through transparency
Technical Skills Demonstrated: Cultural UX Research, Privacy-First Design, Community Platform Architecture, Content Moderation Systems, Anonymous Identity Design, Mobile-First Responsive Design, Inclusive Design for Sensitive Topics
Unreveald represents my approach to UX design for sensitive, culturally complex challenges—combining deep empathy research with innovative privacy technology to create platforms that serve vulnerable populations while respecting cultural context and individual dignity.
More Projects
UI / UX Design
Designing a Safe Space to Speak Up
Built “Unreveald,” an anonymous mental health platform that reached 10,000+ users by creating trust and community in a culture that often stays silent
Year :
2025
Industry :
Mental Health
Client :
In-house Product
Project Duration :
6 months
Project Overview
In 2022-2023, I served as Product Owner and UX Lead for Unreveald, India's first privacy-focused mental health community platform. Recognizing that cultural stigma prevents millions of Indians from seeking mental health support, I designed an anonymous, safe-space platform that achieved 10,000+ sign-ups and 5,000 monthly active users within 90 days—significantly outperforming industry benchmarks.
Duration: 12 months (2022-2023)
My Role: Product Owner & UX Lead
Impact: 10,000+ sign-ups, 5,000 MAU, national press coverage
Key Innovation: Cultural stigma-aware design with privacy-by-design architecture
The Mental Health Crisis in Cultural Context
The Scale of the Problem
India contributes 18% of the global population but carries a disproportionate mental health burden. With 150 million Indians needing mental health care but only 30 million seeking help, the treatment gap stands at a staggering 80%. The numbers are even more alarming:
56+ million Indians suffer from depression—the highest globally
One in 20 Indians suffers from depression
Suicide rate of 12.4 per 100,000 people—the highest since 1967
Only 0.75 psychiatrists per 100,000 people (WHO recommends 3 per 100,000)
Cultural Barriers: "Log Kya Kahenge?"
Through my one-on-one user research, I discovered that the phrase "log kya kahenge?" (what will people say?) emerged in every single interview. This singular cultural precept shapes mental health decisions across gender, caste, religion, and socioeconomic lines.
Key Cultural Insights:
Family reputation over individual needs: Mental health issues are seen as reflecting badly on entire families, not just individuals
Marriage stigma: Mental health history can ruin marriage prospects, leading to secrecy and delayed treatment
Spiritual misattribution: Mental illness often attributed to "lack of discipline," "evil spirits," or "black magic"
Gender-specific barriers: Traditional masculine roles prevent men from seeking help; women face additional scrutiny about stability
My Role & Research Approach
As Product Owner and UX Lead, I took full ownership of the user experience strategy, from initial concept through post-launch iteration. Working with a small engineering team, I was responsible for:
Strategic UX vision and product roadmap
User research and cultural insight gathering
Information architecture and interaction design
Privacy-first UX patterns and anonymity systems
Community guidelines and moderation strategy
Research Methodology
Quantitative Research: Conducted one-on-one interviews with 25+ potential users across demographics to understand stigma manifestation and help-seeking barriers.
Qualitative Internet Research: Analyzed mental health discussions across Indian forums, social media, and support groups to identify language patterns, concerns, and unmet needs.
Cultural Context Analysis: Studied existing research on Indian mental health stigma, family dynamics, and privacy expectations to inform design decisions.
UX Strategy: Designing for Cultural Safety
Core Design Principles
Based on my research into mental health UX best practices and Indian cultural context, I established five foundational principles:
1. Privacy-by-Design Architecture
End-to-end encryption for all communications
Zero personal data collection during onboarding
Anonymous account creation with no email/phone requirements
Secure data handling with transparent privacy policies
2. Cultural Stigma Mitigation
Anonymous posting and interaction to eliminate judgment fears
No profile pictures or real names to prevent identification
Family-safe language avoiding clinical terminology that triggers shame
Discrete notifications that don't reveal mental health content
3. Community-First Safety
Moderated forums with trained community managers
Peer support groups organized by interests, not diagnoses
Professional resource hub with vetted mental health information
Crisis intervention protocols for users in distress
4. Progressive Disclosure
Simple onboarding that doesn't overwhelm anxious users
Optional feature adoption allowing gradual engagement
Contextual help appearing only when needed
Customizable privacy controls for user agency
5. Emotional Safety Design
Calming visual design with soft colors and minimal UI
Trigger warning systems for sensitive content
Empathetic microcopy using non-judgmental language
Multiple content moderation layers to prevent harmful interactions
Key Design Solutions
Anonymous Identity System
Challenge: Users needed to feel completely anonymous while still enabling meaningful community connections.
Solution: Designed a persistent anonymous identity system where users choose color-based usernames (e.g., "Gentle Blue," "Quiet Green") that remain consistent across sessions while revealing no personal information. This pattern, inspired by successful anonymous platforms, allows users to build relationships and reputation without sacrificing privacy.
Three-Tier Community Architecture
1. Open Forums - "Share Safely"
Public anonymous posting on topics like anxiety, depression, workplace stress
Community moderation with trained volunteer moderators
Upvoting system to surface helpful content without revealing voter identity
2. Private Support Groups - "Connect Deeply"
Interest-based groups (e.g., "New Parents," "Career Stress," "Students") rather than diagnosis-focused
Invite-only spaces with enhanced privacy controls
Peer mentorship programs matching experienced users with newcomers
3. Resource Hub - "Learn Privately"
Curated mental health information from licensed professionals
Self-help tools and coping strategies
Anonymous professional consultation booking system
Content Moderation & Safety
Hybrid Moderation System
Drawing from content moderation best practices, I implemented a three-layer safety system:
Layer 1: AI-Powered Pre-screening
Keyword filtering for harmful content and spam
Sentiment analysis to flag potential crisis situations
Automated triggers for mental health resources when distress detected
Layer 2: Community Self-Moderation
User reporting system with clear guidelines
Peer moderation by trusted community members
Transparent moderation actions with explanations
Layer 3: Professional Oversight
Licensed counselor review for crisis situations
Escalation protocols for users expressing suicidal ideation
Regular community health assessments by mental health professionals
Trigger Warning & Content Safety
Implemented comprehensive trigger warning systems based on UX best practices for sensitive content:
Content warnings before potentially triggering posts
Blurred overlay system for sensitive images
User-controlled content filtering by topic
Safe word protocols for crisis situations
Onboarding for Vulnerable Users
Anxiety-Aware Onboarding
Recognising that users might be experiencing anxiety or depression when first using the app, I designed a gentle, progressive onboarding that builds trust gradually:
Step 1: Welcome & Safety (30 seconds)
Warm, non-clinical welcome message
Clear privacy commitment upfront
Optional community guidelines tour
Step 2: Anonymous Setup (60 seconds)
Color-based username selection
Basic privacy preferences
Optional notification settings
Step 3: Community Exploration (Self-paced)
Guided tour of forum categories
Sample posts and conversations
"Lurker mode" for read-only access initially
Trust-Building Elements
Transparency about data use with plain-language privacy policy
Community testimonials (anonymous) about positive experiences
Professional endorsements from licensed therapists
Clear moderation policies to ensure safety
Measuring Success & Impact
Quantitative Results
Metric | Industry Benchmark | Unreveald Performance | Achievement |
Sign-ups (90 days) | 1,000-5,000 for new platforms | 10,000+ | 2-10x above benchmark |
Monthly Active Users | 3.3% retention at 30 days | 5,000 MAU (50% of signups) | 15x above industry average |
Daily Engagement | 4% daily active users | ~17% daily active rate | 4x above industry average |
User Retention | 3.9% at 15 days | ~65% at 15 days | 16x above industry average |
Our success metrics aligned more closely with employer-provided mental health platforms (51-60% retention) than consumer apps, suggesting our community-first approach created enterprise-level engagement.
Qualitative Success Indicators
Community Health Metrics:
Peer support network formation: 80% of active users participated in mutual support
Crisis intervention success: 100% of flagged crisis situations received appropriate support
Content quality: <2% of posts required moderation action after initial 3 months
Professional validation: Endorsements from 5+ licensed mental health professionals
National Recognition
Press coverage in major Indian publications highlighting platform's cultural innovation
Mental health organization partnerships for resource sharing
Academic interest from researchers studying digital mental health in India
Key Design Challenges & Solutions
Challenge 1: Balancing Anonymity with Accountability
Problem: Complete anonymity could enable abuse while accountability might discourage authentic sharing.
Solution: Implemented graduated anonymity system:
Public forums: Fully anonymous with community moderation
Support groups: Persistent usernames with reputation scores
Private conversations: Option for verified anonymous accounts
Crisis situations: Secure professional contact protocols
Challenge 2: Cultural Sensitivity at Scale
Problem: Indian culture varies significantly by region, religion, and language—how to be inclusive while remaining culturally aware?
Solution: Community-driven cultural adaptation:
Regional community moderators who understand local cultural nuances
Multi-language support for Hindi and English with culturally appropriate translations
Flexible community guidelines that adapt to different cultural contexts
Local mental health resource integration varying by geography
Challenge 3: Professional Integration Without Stigma
Problem: Users wanted access to professional help but feared being identified or judged.
Solution: Anonymous professional consultation system:
Anonymous booking through platform with encrypted communications
Professional verification without revealing user identity
Sliding scale fees to address economic barriers
Follow-up support through platform's secure messaging
Technical Innovation: Privacy-First Architecture
Zero-Knowledge Community Platform
Inspired by privacy-first design patterns, I architected a system where platform operators couldn't identify users even if required by law:
Encrypted user data with keys held only by users
Anonymous analytics that tracked engagement without personal identification
Distributed moderation where no single entity had complete user information
Self-destructing data options for users who wanted to leave permanently
Mobile-First Responsive Design
Recognizing that mobile usage is dominant in India, especially among younger demographics struggling with mental health:
Touch-first interaction design with 44px+ touch targets
Offline reading capabilities for users with limited data plans
Low-bandwidth optimized for slower internet connections
Battery-efficient design to not drain older devices
Lessons Learned & Key Insights
1. Cultural Research is Product Research
Understanding "log kya kahenge" wasn't just cultural context—it was the core product requirement. The platform's success stemmed from designing specifically for Indian cultural barriers, not adapting Western mental health app patterns.
2. Community Beats Features
While I initially focused on features like mood tracking and journaling, peer support forums drove 90% of engagement. Users came for tools but stayed for community—a finding that aligns with research showing peer support apps have the highest retention rates.
3. Privacy Enables Authenticity
Complete anonymity didn't lead to abuse—it led to unprecedented authenticity. When users felt truly safe, they shared more honestly and supported each other more effectively than in identified spaces.
4. Professional Integration Requires Trust
Users wanted professional help but needed gradual trust-building. The most successful feature was the anonymous Q&A with verified therapists, which let users test professional interactions before committing to formal therapy.
5. Moderation is Mental Health Care
Content moderation in a mental health community isn't just about safety—it's a form of care delivery. Our community moderators, trained in basic mental health support, often provided the first positive intervention users experienced.
Long-term Impact & Sustainability
Creating a Mental Health Movement
Unreveald demonstrated that cultural barriers could be overcome through thoughtful design. The platform's success influenced other Indian mental health initiatives to adopt privacy-first, culturally-aware approaches.
Scaling Cultural Innovation
The design patterns we developed—anonymous persistent identity, cultural context-aware moderation, and stigma-sensitive onboarding—have been adopted by other platforms addressing sensitive topics in conservative cultures.
Professional Ecosystem Development
By creating a bridge between anonymous users and verified professionals, Unreveald helped normalize mental health support and provided professionals with a new model for reaching reluctant populations.
Future Applications & Learnings
The UX principles and cultural insights from Unreveald are applicable beyond mental health to any sensitive, stigmatized topic in conservative cultures:
Sexual health education in traditional societies
Domestic violence support with safety concerns
LGBTQ+ community building in non-accepting environments
Addiction recovery with family shame concerns
Key Transferable UX Patterns:
Cultural stigma-aware onboarding
Graduated privacy controls
Anonymous professional integration
Community-driven moderation
Trust-building through transparency
Technical Skills Demonstrated: Cultural UX Research, Privacy-First Design, Community Platform Architecture, Content Moderation Systems, Anonymous Identity Design, Mobile-First Responsive Design, Inclusive Design for Sensitive Topics
Unreveald represents my approach to UX design for sensitive, culturally complex challenges—combining deep empathy research with innovative privacy technology to create platforms that serve vulnerable populations while respecting cultural context and individual dignity.