Mental health apps should chill on the shiny stuff

The more a mental health app feels like it’s trying to keep me engaged, the less I trust it. Streaks, pushy notifications, little gamified rewards… nah, that stuff reads weird fast when the app is supposed to help you calm down.

What UI pattern makes you instantly back out of a wellness app? For me it’s the fake-cheery “AI therapist” chat thing. Feels off immediately.

source: Designing For Distressed Users: Why Mental Health Apps Shouldn’t Follow Every UI Fashion — Smashing Magazine