Sprite Catcher: A Handheld Self-Reflection and Mindfulness Tool for Mental Healthcare

Abstract

This paper describes the rationale behind the ongoing development of Sprite Catcher -- a handheld, tangible interactive tool for treating depression and anxiety. The current design, which is intended to encourage the user to practice self-reflection and mindfulness, is the product of participatory design conducted with counsellors from a local mental health charity and with a university psychology researcher. Through a review of previous work in this area, a description of a use scenario and an overview of the design's functions and concepts, we illustrate where the project is heading and which research questions we aim to respond to.