Digital Support for Young Adults’ Mental Health
Mental health challenges among young adults are one of the greatest societal issues of our time. To address the need for accessible, research-based support, researchers at Lund University are running the iBalans project, an app designed to strengthen mental well-being among Generation Z. At Twofour, we are responsible for developing and producing the app for both iOS and Android.
The project combines research, user-centered design, and modern app development to create a digital tool that is both flexible and scalable. The goal is to make it easier for young adults to work on their mental well-being through daily exercises, self-assessments, and evidence-based content.
Flexible App Development with Flutter and Payload CMS
An important part of the project has been developing a technical solution that enables researchers to work independently. Since the app’s content is continuously developed together with test users, the platform needed to be easy to update without requiring new development for every change.
To enable this, we built the app in Flutter, making it possible to develop for both iOS and Android from a shared codebase. This provides faster development, easier maintenance, and a consistent user experience across platforms.
We also integrated Payload CMS as the content management system. Through the connection between the CMS and the app, researchers can log in and:
- create new questions and exercises
- update articles and video content
- customize self-assessments and quizzes
- publish new content in real time
This means the project can continue evolving without depending on developers for every content update. The solution provides both flexibility and long-term sustainability, which is especially important in research projects where insights and needs change over time.
A Research-Based Tool for Better Wellbeing
All content in iBalans is developed with support from research conducted at Lund University and in Australia. The app’s design and functionality have been created with a strong focus on usability and engagement for young adults.
Within the app, users can:
- track their daily well-being
- complete quizzes and self-assessments
- read articles about mental health
- watch video content
- access support and exercises to improve well-being
The goal is to create an accessible digital support tool that helps young adults better understand their mental health and develop healthier habits in everyday life.
Naturally, everything is built with security in focus.
Technology Enabling the Future of Digital Health
Digital solutions are playing an increasingly important role in research and healthcare. Through iBalans, researchers gain a tool that can be used in ongoing studies and further developed over time based on users’ needs and behaviors.
For us at Twofour, the project is an example of how modern technology can be used to create real societal value. The combination of Flutter, Payload CMS, and research-driven development makes it possible to build a flexible and future-proof platform for digital health.
iBalans is a project where technology, research, and user experience come together with a shared goal: contributing to better mental well-being for the adults of tomorrow.