PsychDAO: Psychology DAO for mental health & P2P Learning

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

[GENERAL] Are you delivering this project as an individual or as an entity (whether formally incorporated or not)

[GENERAL] Please specify how many months you expect your project to last (from 2-12 months)

[GENERAL] Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated into English from another language.

[GENERAL] Summarize your solution to the problem (200-character limit including spaces)

I am building a community, with the vision of becoming a DAO in the DeSci movement, for P2P learning of psychology students and supporting Cardanians seeking psychological support..

[GENERAL] Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?

[GENERAL] If YES, please describe what the dependency is and why you believe it is essential for your project’s delivery. If NO, please write “No dependencies.”

No dependencies.

[GENERAL] Will your project’s output/s be fully open source?

[GENERAL] Please provide here more information on the open source status of your project outputs

Open to all psychology enthusiasts.

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution.

This project aims to build a community hub to connect psychology students, psychologists to provide mentorship and people who are interested in psychology. Over time community members will come up with new ideas, projects on how to utilize this DAO in this area. Adawell DAO is a great example of connecting people who are into same area. PsychDAO will be a base for decentralized science movement for this field in Cardano.

Problem 1 Passive learning alone is insufficient for optimal learner experience

Passive learning remains one of the fundamental approaches in education today; however, it is not sufficient for effective learning. Engaging in interactions is considered one of the most effective approaches to learning.

Solution 1 In this community;

*Community will regularly gather to discuss research findings, innovative techniques, and more to stay updated with the advancements in the field of psychology.

*While utilizing peer learning, the community will encourage students to share their knowledge and experiences in the areas they feel confident in through workshops, events and more.

Problem 2 Cardano lacks DAO in growing decentralized science movement

Decentralized Science movement has become widespread in Ethereum, but in Cardano it is limited and insufficient.

Solution 2

*I am new to decentralized science movement, there's a lot to learn about this area, but I am motivated improve myself and my field in this area. With the community, we will be one of the first DeSci mental health DAOs in Cardano ecosystem.

Problem 3 Mental health problems (depression, anxiety etc.) are increasing day by day

One of the main reasons for depression and anxiety is lack of accessibility to effective, affordable mental health care.

 Depression and anxiety went up by more than 25% in the first year of the pandemic alone.

Solution 3

*Psychology knowledge base: I aim to create accessible and sustainable open-source environment for people to access more mental health content.

Within 3 months, I will publish toolkits for depression and anxiety problems and ways to reduce and/or overcome these problems.

I will form a team with students who share a similar vision.

Digital tools I will be using:

1. GitBook for knowledge base (psychology content+latest findings from the field)
2. Discord for regular gatherings, events and announcements.
3. Twitter Community and Spaces to regularly share key highlights of research findings and psychology related contents.
4. Zoom Pro for P2P gatherings.

[IMPACT] Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community.

Psychology is one of the fields that will continue to gain importance and the importance of technology cannot be overlooked. There are areas in the decentralized science (DeSci) ecosystem that need improvement for the field of psychology. I will build a hub for psychology students to learn and practice, with disclaimers, to help each other and the community. This will create a DeSci movement in Cardano. Through active participation and collaboration, psychology students, psychologists can play a vital role in advancing the field of Psychology within decentralized science and its potential impact on individuals and society.

[CAPABILITY & FEASIBILITY] What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability? How do you intend to validate if your approach is feasible?

As a senior year psychology student, I have had the opportunity to engage in various communities and who has experienced the benefits of peer learning. I aim to give the opportunity for every student in my field. I worked voluntarily in a project that aimed children to express their problems and actively participate in finding solutions to the issues they face. I was awarded with The GOLD STANDARD OF THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH'S INTERNATIONAL AWARD. With all these experiences and more I want to work on the improvement of my field within decentralized science. I'll make network within Cardano communities and ask for support when needed from such as Adawell DAO community.

[Project Milestones] What are the key milestones you need to achieve in order to complete your project successfully?

Milestone 1: Within 5 months, 50 psychology students join the community.

Creating an environment with opportunities to express themselves comfortably for growth and networking.

At least one psychology student from the community joins the core team.

To achieve this, the community will create opportunities for student involvement aligned with the community's aims.

As a result of creating opportunities for student involvement aligned with the community's aims, at least one psychology student from the community successfully joins the core team, contributing their expertise and actively participating in the community's initiatives.

At the end of the 4th month the community will partner with another psychology community for a networking and knowledge exchange event.

By the end of the fourth month, the community successfully establishes a partnership with another psychology community to organize a networking and knowledge exchange event. This collaboration leads to valuable connections, increased visibility, and an enriched learning experience for both communities.

[RESOURCES] Who is in the project team and what are their roles?

I am a dedicated senior year psychology student. I worked as an intern in a psychology clinic. I actively engaged in community projects, gaining valuable experience in collaborating within diverse groups. I am driven by a desire to contribute to the field of psychology and apply my knowledge to make a positive impact on individuals and communities. Constantly seeking opportunities for growth, I am eager to explore the multifaceted aspects of psychology and contribute to its continuous development.

[BUDGET & COSTS] Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources.

$96USD for 6months, Zoom Pro

The rest of the budget is to implement the proposal. As I am studying psychology, I am required to make a certain amount of payment for tuition fees. The budget will allow me to dedicate more time to this project for the duration.

[VALUE FOR MONEY] How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?

With 15,000 ADA, Cardano will support the following:

• Contribution to mental health: Supporting projects focused on improving mental health and well-being will contribute to an area that will always remain important for the Cardano ecosystem
• Decentralized Science DAO: The project will contribute to decentralized science ecosystem's improvement for the field of psychology and to Cardano's competitive advantage. As the Cardano ecosystem grows, the number of decentralized autonomous organizations will likely increase, provide more opportunities for participation and community involvement.
• Psychology students: It can provide valuable resources and support for psychology students through their academic and professional growth.

[IMPORTANT NOTE] The Applicant agrees to Fund Rules and also that data in the submission form and other data provided by the project team during the course of the project will be publicly available.