The University of Arkansas at Little Rock recently hosted an AI and Mental Health Hackathon, where student teams presented innovative solutions to real-world mental health challenges. The competition featured five teams, each tasked with developing a minimum viable product using Artificial Intelligence to address specific mental health issues.
James Dempsey, a UALR student and member of the winning team Focus Coach, expressed his excitement about their project’s success, “I meant to say ‘fabulous’ at first, then I also meant to say ‘fantastic,’ but ‘fanta-bulous’ came out,” he said. “There were a lot of fantastic projects that were made and I was concerned about our ability to hold up, but clearly it came out in the end doing well.”
Competition Overview
– Participants : 42 students divided into five teams.
– Objective : Solve mental health problems using AI.
– Judging Criteria : Problem understanding, teamwork, AI application, impact potential, and clarity of plan.
Brian Berry, vice provost of research and dean of the graduate school at UALR, served as one of the judges, noting the tight competition among the teams. “The top three teams were separated by less than one percentage point,” he remarked.
Winning Team: Focus Coach
The Focus Coach team aimed to create a tool that enhances user focus through subtle reminders and prompts for mindful activities. “The mission is to create an extension or website that helps users increase their focus,” explained team member Elliot Estes, 23. The product is designed to offer personalized support, recognizing individual struggles and providing tailored suggestions.
Duron Huggins, 15, another team member, contributed significantly by developing the dashboard for their product. “I took everybody’s ideas and put it into one space,” Huggins said, expressing his astonishment and delight at their victory.
Other Notable Projects
– Rapid Route : Led by high school student Vishak Meenachi, this project focuses on providing mental and physical health resources to veterans through accessible platforms like libraries and shelters.
– Teen2Teen Connect : Proposed by Janav Jawahar, 16, this initiative creates a platform for teens to discuss their issues with peers, emphasizing the importance of relatable support systems.
Hackathon Format and Experience
The hackathon spanned a week, with sessions from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Participants attended morning classes to learn about AI tools and spent afternoons collaborating on their projects. Program coordinator Marla Johnson highlighted the unique blend of coding, business strategy, and application, with the participation of mental health and AI experts.
Johnson is already planning next year’s event, scheduled for June 8-12, with the goal of securing additional sponsorships to provide housing for students from rural areas.
Support and Future Prospects
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Arkansas Children’s Hospital sponsored this year’s hackathon. The initiative exemplifies the integration of technology and mental health, offering students a platform to innovate and address pressing societal issues.
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Note: This article is inspired by content from https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2025/jun/14/ualr-competition-has-teams-developing-artificial/. It has been rephrased for originality. Images are credited to the original source.