This paper presents the development process of the mobile App
D.R.E.A.M., Design-thinking to Reach-out, Embrace and Acknowledge Mental
health, which is a tool for self-assessment and self-care in promoting the mental
health of higher education students. In Portugal, the program for promoting Mental
Health in higher education advocates the development and use of digital tools, such
as apps and/or social networks and platforms, aimed at promoting wellbeing and
with the potential for use to be more accessible to higher education students. The
objective of this app is to promote the mental health and wellbeing of higher educa-
tion students. Design Thinking was used as the methodology for building the app,
which was developed using a combination of low-code/no-code tools, Flutter/Dart
coding, and Google’s Firebase capabilities and database functionalities. In the first
semester of the 2023/2024 academic year, 484 students downloaded the app, and
22 emails were received for psychological consultations. A dynamic update of the
app is required, with modules on time management and study organization, struc-
tured physical activity programs, development of socio-entrepreneurial skills, and
vocational area.
