Non-Programming Development of a Therapy Chatbot for University Students: Utilizing Computational Thinking and Rapid Prototyping

DOI

10.2991/978-94-6463-756-4_27How to use a DOI?

Keywords

HopeU; Therapy Chatbot; Non-programming; Computational Thinking; Rapid Prototyping

Abstract

The increasing prevalence of mental health challenges among university students has highlighted the need for scalable and accessible support mechanisms. Therapy chatbots have emerged as a promising solution, offering immediate and personalized assistance to those in need. However, the development of these tools traditionally requires advanced programming skills, limiting their accessibility to a broader range of stakeholders. This paper presents the development of HopeU, a therapy chatbot designed for university students, which was created without traditional programming. The development process utilized the ChatGPT module within the computational thinking framework and employed rapid prototyping as the methodology. The chatbot leverages the principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which emphasizes the connection between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, by guiding users through structured conversations that prompt reflection on their emotional states. This approach allowed for the creation of a functional and effective therapy chatbot that could be developed and maintained by individuals without formal programming expertise. The paper discusses the design and development process, highlighting the benefits of computational thinking in breaking down complex tasks into manageable components, and the effectiveness of rapid prototyping in iteratively refining the chatbot based on user feedback. HopeU offers a solution to the current gaps in university mental health services, offering personalized support at scale. This approach opens possibilities for non-technical developers to create effective digital mental health tools, with implications for broader applications in the field of mental health support and education.

Copyright

© 2025 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Subashini Annamalai
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/05/29
TI  - Non-Programming Development of a Therapy Chatbot for University Students: Utilizing Computational Thinking and Rapid Prototyping
BT  - Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Communication and Media (i-COME 24)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 269
EP  - 278
SN  - 2667-128X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6463-756-4_27
DO  - 10.2991/978-94-6463-756-4_27
ID  - Annamalai2025
ER  -