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| A team of students from UMM developed an app called *Curahkan’s Cyber Counseling*, a digital platform specifically designed to support mental health (Photo: Special). |
Mental health is one of the most prevalent issues today, especially among Gen Z. Many suicide cases are caused by stress, depression, and related factors. In response, a team of students from the University of Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM) developed an app called Curahkan’s Cyber Counseling, a digital platform specifically designed to support mental health. This idea even led them to win first place at the Unnes Islamic Fair in Semarang this November.
The idea was initiated by Khoirul Umar, Innasatun Nabilatin Nadif, and Ameliya Dalallul Hanan. Umar explained that the app aims to provide a safe and reliable space for those who wish to express their feelings without relying on strangers.
Read more: Story of Nafik, a Lecturer at UMM, Studying Religious Studies in Budapest.
The Curahkan's app serves as an online counseling platform that can be accessed anytime and anywhere. It even uses end-to-end encryption, similar to WhatsApp, to ensure the security of user data. One of its advantages is that the app offers counseling options with professional psychologists who are not only experts in psychology but also have a religious background as ustadz and ustadzah.
“Users are also categorized based on gender to ensure their comfort and trust during consultations," said Umar.
The communication studies student continued, saying that the prototype includes several key features, such as the Alat Ungkap Masalah (AUM), which serves as a space for users to write down their complaints or share their feelings. After that, they can access Sack’s Sentence Completion Test to assess their personality profile and the Beck Depression Inventory to measure their stress levels.
"Next, the results will show that the app can detect tendencies such as deep sadness or reluctance to socialize by providing notifications tailored to the user's emotional state," he added.
In addition, Curahkan has a feature called the Manager Ibadah, which reminds users to perform daily worship activities, such as prayers. It even reminds them of small actions, like smiling. There are several advantages to this app. First, it is designed for general use, especially for Muslims, particularly Gen Z. Non-Muslim users can also use it, but they will not have access to the ustadz and ustadzah features. Second, this app incorporates the principles of Surah Ar-Rad, verse 28, and can guide users in socializing to help prevent stress.
"This app is still under development, so there are shortcomings that we need to evaluate further. Continuous evaluation is still required," he said.
Umar and his team hope that this app can prevent suicide among teenagers, especially in Malang. Additionally, they aim to assist those experiencing life pressures. He wants the platform to provide both religious guidance and psychological support, helping users feel closer to God and encouraging them to live more positively.
"Curahkan's Cyber Counseling is expected to be a concrete step in efforts to prevent mental health issues such as stress and depression. To my Gen Z friends, take care of your mental health because life is still long. We must adhere to the principle of ‘Khoirunnas anfa'uhum linnas,’ which means the best people are those who help others," he concluded. (nam/wil/ind)
