Introduction

As someone who cares deeply about both technology and mental wellness, I wanted to create a project that could make a meaningful impact. The idea was simple: build something that feels helpful, calming, and approachable — something people could interact with on tough days.

That led me to build a Mental Health Chatbot — a web-based application that allows users to talk or type, reflect through journaling, receive daily affirmations, and track their stress levels in a supportive environment.

The Inspiration

In today’s fast-paced life, mental health often takes a back seat. I thought — what if a simple chatbot could offer a moment of calm? A space where someone could just talk, write, and feel seen, even in a small way.

This chatbot doesn’t try to replace real therapy or counseling, but it’s a step toward making mental wellness more accessible through technology.

Tech Stack Used

To bring this idea to life, I used:

Flask – for the backend and routing logic
JavaScript – to handle user interactions and voice input
HTML/CSS – for a clean and responsive UI
SpeechRecognition API – to convert voice input into text
LocalStorage – to save journal entries and chat history on the client side

Key Features

Voice Input: Users can speak instead of typing, making the experience more natural
Journaling: A space for users to privately write down and store their thoughts
Daily Affirmations: Positive messages to start the day or lift the mood
Stress Detection: Basic keyword-based detection to identify stress levels
Soothing UI: Designed with a calming interface to ensure the user feels comfortable

GitHub Repository

You can explore the full project here:
github.com/Jaspreetkaurr21/mental-health-chatbot

What I Learned

Working on this project helped me grow both technically and personally. I learned how to:

Build full-stack web applications using Flask and JavaScript
Use browser APIs like speech recognition to enhance accessibility
Manage local storage and user data on the client side
Design with empathy and simplicity in mind, especially for emotionally sensitive topics

Final Thoughts

This project taught me that technology can be more than just functional — it can be kind. My hope is that this chatbot offers users a small moment of clarity or comfort, and reminds them that taking care of mental health is just as important as physical health.

My Mental Health Chatbot Project – A Blend of Tech and Empathy