Tuesday 9 April 2013

Fifth Army App


Fifth Army App: Addressing Depression, Homophobia and Bullying Through Technology


In Australia, headspace, a mental health foundation, and the Cotton On Foundation, a charitable organization, have joined forces to create The Fifth Army, an educational smartphone app designed to combat depression, homophobia and bullying amongst young people. 

The app is a game in which each player completes missions and earn points in order to move up the ranks and earn higher titles. After downloading the app, players must choose to enlist in a division: depression, homophobia or bullying. They then earn points by recruiting other members to The Fifth Army and by completing challenges in their chosen divisions. These challenges teach the player about their “division” (i.e. depression, homophobia or bullying): what it is, how to cope with it and how to help others who might be struggling with it. Players receive rewards as they play, and once they have completed a division, they can move on to another. After completing all three divisions, players earn the title of “three-star general.”  

headspace developed all of the game’s challenges with the aim of teaching players important information about depression, homophobia and bullying while still allowing them to simultaneously have fun. The goal is that, after completing the challenges, players will be armed with the necessary knowledge and skills to help friends, family and themselves if they should ever struggle with bullying, homophobia or depression. 

headspace additionally enlisted Australian celebrity Ruby Rose as their spokesperson. Ruby Rose is a model, TV actor and performing artist. She also came out as a lesbian when she was 12 years old. In the advertisement for The Fifth Army, Ruby Rose tells listeners that she has struggled with all three of the division challenges in her personal life. The app has also enlisted the help of Sarah de Bono of Australia’s TV show The Voice, who heads up the bullying division; James Mason of the TV series Neighbours, who heads up the homophobia division; and Trent “Maxi” Maxwell of the TV series Bondi Rescue, who heads up the depression division. To develop the app, headspace teamed up with the Cotton OnFoundation, which provided the funding and assisted with planning, design and delivery.

The Need for an American App?
Bullying, homophobia and depression are problems that don’t only affect Australian youth; they are also serious issues in the United States. Mental Health America reports that a third of U.S. students admit that they have been bullied before, and an even higher number of parents and teachers say they have witnessed or been told about bullying. Homophobia is similarly a serious issue, with youth today being targeted for being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. Depression is also pervasive. 

The question presents itself: Could an application like The Fifth Army be useful in the United States? A recent study reported that 91 percent of kids in the United States play some kind of video game, meaning that the approach is in line with how American children already consume media. Thus, an informative, but fun and challenging game that enlists the help of popular American celebrities could be just the way to teach kids in the United States how to deal with bullying, depression and homophobia.

Written by Gabriela De Acosta

Gabriela De Acosta works with the USC Rossier School of Education and USC School of Social Work online, which is one of the most innovative and dynamic army social work programs online. She is passionate about social justice, community organizing and leadership development. Connect with her on Twitter @Gabyacosta101

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