just stumbled across kat homan's piece on why we need to stop treating mental health apps like every other flashy interface. most of the stuff we see on dribbble is built for engagement, but that's the exact opposite of what someone in a crisis needs. instead of high-contrast eye candy, these users need something that reduces
cognitive load and feels safe. it's easy to get caught up in implementing
@media (max-width: 480px) { .pop-up-animation { ... } }just because it looks modern, but for a distressed user, those sudden movements can be overwhelming. we should be prioritizing
predictability and calm over whatever the newest interaction pattern is.
the goal shouldn't be to steal attention but to provide a refuge. if we apply heavy animations or complex hierarchies, we might actually be
helping hurting the people who need us most. does anyone else feel like our industry is getting too obsessed with 'delightful' micro-interactions at the expense of usability? i'm curious if you guys think there's a middle ground between staying current and maintaining accessibility for sensitive states
full read:
https://smashingmagazine.com/2026/07/designing-distressed-users-mental-health-apps-ui/