Enhancing digital mental health platforms: a usability exploration with ergonomics design students

Abstract

Purpose This study aims to explore how specific usability attributes influence engagement, perceived therapeutic efficacy and help-seeking behaviour within a prototype digital mental health platform. Design/methodology/approach Fifty-five undergraduate ergonomics and product design students performed ten scenario-based tasks on a high-fidelity Web prototype (AMGR-0). Screen recordings generated completion-time metrics, and post-task questionnaires and think-aloud interviews provided qualitative data. Quantitative data were analysed with descriptive statistics; thematic analysis of transcripts followed Braun and Clarke, informed by Nielsen’s heuristics and the Technology Acceptance Model. Findings Intuitive navigation, multilingual menus and hybrid care options (self-help and therapist contact) predicted shorter task time and higher satisfaction. Flexible session lengths (approximately 60 min) and rapid access to professional directories reduced self-reported barriers to help-seeking. Four themes emerged: navigational clarity, cognitive load, perceived usefulness and cultural-linguistic alignment. Participants overwhelmingly preferred hybrid, mobile-and-Web delivery (78%) and combined therapist-assisted/self-help care (58%). Research limitations/implications Results are derived from a homogeneous, design-literate student sample and a single-session interaction with a prototype; generalisability and long-term engagement effects remain to be tested. Practical implications Stakeholders should minimise click-depth, support multilingual interfaces and offer configurable hybrid pathways to sustain user engagement and lower help-seeking barriers. Social implications By reducing cognitive and cultural friction, usable platforms can widen access to mental health support among digitally connected but underserved populations. Originality/value This study links fine-grained usability metrics to perceived efficacy and help-seeking intentions, providing actionable, theory-grounded guidelines for the next generation of culturally adaptive digital mental health interventions.

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