MindBoba

Challenge:

Asian Americans often face high levels of stress while also encountering significant barriers to accessing mental health support, including stigma, limited culturally informed care, and experiences of marginalization within traditional health systems. Many existing mental health apps are not designed with these realities, limiting their usefulness. The MindBoba project set out to create a solution that meets Chinese and Taiwanese Americans’ unique needs by offering accessible, culturally responsive tools to support stress reduction and emotional well-being. 

Solution:

To better support the mental health needs of Chinese and Taiwanese Americans, Trifoia and its partners developed MindBoba – a progressive web app based on Problem-Solving Therapy (PST). MindBoba uses relatable stories, interactive exercises, and audio-guided practices to help users manage stress and build problem-solving skills. Every element – from illustrations to journaling prompts – was thoughtfully developed to reflect culturally relevant themes and everyday experiences. The app provides a supportive, engaging space for users to explore their challenges and develop strategies to navigate them. 

Process:

MindBoba is a mobile-friendly web app grounded in Problem-Solving Therapy (PST), an evidence-based approach that teaches users how to navigate stress by breaking problems into manageable steps. Developed and tested with support from a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant, the app was created with guidance from Chinese and Taiwanese Americans to ensure the experience felt relevant, empowering, and culturally affirming. 

Researchers from Trifoia led the development and evaluation process over a two-year period. A randomized controlled trial tested MindBoba against both a business-as-usual group and a standard mental health app based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This allowed for a direct comparison of PST and CBT approaches to problem-solving. Users of MindBoba reported greater reductions in depression and avoidance behaviors, along with improved self-efficacy and more positive attitudes toward seeking help. The app was also rated significantly higher for cultural relevance. 

Key MindBoba features include: 

  • Character-driven stories that model step-by-step problem-solving using relatable, culturally informed scenarios 
  • Interactive tools such as journaling prompts, logic puzzles, and goal-setting activities 
  • Audio-guided visualizations for mindfulness, deep breathing, and goal setting activities 
  • Mood tracking and in-app rewards to support reflection and motivation 
  • Tailored onboarding that guides users to personalized starting points based on a brief in-app assessment