Spirilexis: Empowering Emerging Adults to Build Emotional Awareness

The project at hand focuses on empowering emerging adults to build emotional awareness through identifying and analysing their emotions via a digital toolbox. Based on research done for the project, it was identified that self-awareness is a crucial foundation of mental health and that active suppression of emotions as well as a general lack of self-awareness can lead to deeper mental health issues.

The value of this degree project is that it would help people become aware of their emotions and the information behind them in a personalised, comprehensive and accessible way. The solution approaches emotional literacy from a perspective inspired by language and its aspects and offers AI assistance that decreases in time, ultimately inspiring people to use what they have learnt independently.

Doing inner work would allow people to get to know themselves on a deeper level, which in turn would enable them to make decisions in their lives that are more aligned with what they dream of and value in life. This sort of internal decision-making, which is based on personal values, interests and aspirations, would become more informed and conscious. Having self-awareness in this regard improves mental health and overall well-being.

The target group is thus emerging adults in Estonia (more specifically people in their 20s). Based on desk research and interviews, it is a stage in life where there are several transitions and where people need to figure out who they are and what they want in life. This can also be a very stressful period, where people have to figure out how to navigate their studies, career, relationships, health and hobbies. This sort of pressure may also lead to self-criticism and not feeling good enough. Starting to understand their emotions, feelings and thoughts at a young age will equip them with the skills to handle future obstacles. Emerging adults are also very tech-savvy and open to digital solutions that they can easily use in their daily life. Creating a digital solution for building awareness of emotions for emerging adults will thus help them in their journey of becoming their authentic and healthy selves.