This is the research pilot for He@lio, our youth mental-health platform.
Explore He@lioProgram Overview
A six-month collaborative pilot program with University of Washington Master of Science in Information Management (MSIM) students as part of their Capstone project. Across six phases, the teams examined distinct dimensions of responsible AI deployment in mental health contexts, building a comprehensive evaluation of He@lio's effectiveness, safety, and ethical posture before handing their findings to Compassion8Innovation.
6
Research Phases
6
Months Duration
UW
MSIM Capstone 2026
MSIM Capstone Researchers
University of Washington
Amber Lee · Casey Frizzell · Jaspreet Bhamipuri · Ko-Ching Lu · Rebecca Ko · Saba Ziadlou · Tim Joo · Trudy Xia · Veronica Lee
Project Sponsors
Compassion8Innovation
Joydeep Hazra · Brian Ho
Supported by: Amazon · Bellevue School District
Phase Tracker
Program Phases
January – June 2026 · 6 Phases
Study of Mental Health Topics
Teams received AI fundamentals training from Google experts and conducted in-depth research into mental health topics affecting teens. The goal was to ground the research in real-world youth mental health challenges before engaging with He@lio's AI system.
Do No Harm
Establishing safety guardrails to ensure He@lio does not suggest, imply, or reinforce harmful behaviours. This phase evaluates the chatbot's responses across high-risk mental health scenarios including crisis situations, self-harm language, and harmful coping suggestions.
From Testing to Building
With a safer AI foundation in place, the teams shifted from safety evaluation to product strategy. He@lio's core algorithm underwent a refresh and a new round of testing to ensure it continues to meet safety standards before reaching any user.
Strategy Meets Story
Building on March's product proposals, the teams continued refining He@lio's product strategy while extending research into human-centered design principles. That work culminated in startup pitch decks and drafted investor narratives, translating months of research into a compelling product vision.
Making the Case
With safety testing wrapping, the teams turned to the data behind He@lio's mission: quantifying the counselor shortage that leaves so many students without support. A new financial analysis put real numbers to the gap, while the research itself reached its biggest stage yet at the University of Washington's capstone night.
The Handoff
Six months of research, testing, and strategy came to a close as the teams finalized their University of Washington Capstone report and transferred the full body of project documentation to Compassion8Innovation for review.
Phase 1 — Study of Mental Health Topics
Teams received AI fundamentals training from Google experts and conducted in-depth research into mental health topics affecting teens. The goal was to ground the research in real-world youth mental health challenges before engaging with He@lio's AI system.
- Received hands-on AI fundamentals training from Google experts, including prompt engineering best practices for large language models (LLMs).
- Conducted extensive research into teen mental health topics including depression, anxiety, bullying, eating disorders, and substance use.
- Studied how to craft effective prompts to generate reliable, safe, and useful AI responses in a mental health context.
- Combined AI training with mental health research to begin preparing He@lio to recommend content that is safe, evidence-informed, and appropriate for students.
Phase 2 — Do No Harm
Establishing safety guardrails to ensure He@lio does not suggest, imply, or reinforce harmful behaviours. This phase evaluates the chatbot's responses across high-risk mental health scenarios including crisis situations, self-harm language, and harmful coping suggestions.
- Reviewed He@lio's response corpus against established mental health safety frameworks including Safe Messaging Guidelines (AFSP) and Crisis Text Line protocols.
- Identified and flagged response patterns that could inadvertently minimise distress signals or provide ambiguous guidance in crisis contexts.
- Began iterative prompt and guardrail refinement in collaboration with the Compassion8Innovation team to harden response safety.
Phase 3 — From Testing to Building
With a safer AI foundation in place, the teams shifted from safety evaluation to product strategy. He@lio's core algorithm underwent a refresh and a new round of testing to ensure it continues to meet safety standards before reaching any user.
- Conducted structured market research to map the existing mental health tool landscape, identifying where He@lio has the opportunity to lead.
- Completed product management training to build shared fluency around users, roadmaps, and outcomes.
- Each researcher developed and presented an individual product proposal, marking a shift from prompt-testing to product strategy.
Phase 4 — Strategy Meets Story
Building on March's product proposals, the teams continued refining He@lio's product strategy while extending research into human-centered design principles. That work culminated in startup pitch decks and drafted investor narratives, translating months of research into a compelling product vision.
- Began preparing the final Capstone report for the University of Washington.
- He@lio received another backend update, with continued refinements to improve overall stability.
Phase 5 — Making the Case
With safety testing wrapping, the teams turned to the data behind He@lio's mission: quantifying the counselor shortage that leaves so many students without support. A new financial analysis put real numbers to the gap, while the research itself reached its biggest stage yet at the University of Washington's capstone night.
- Produced a financial report comparing Washington state's top 10 public school districts against the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1 student-to-counselor ratio, using publicly available staffing and wage data to estimate what closing the gap would cost each district.
- Finalized He@lio's safety testing, concluding months of structured evaluation across high-risk mental health scenarios.
- Began drafting the final Capstone report for the University of Washington, synthesizing the project's research, testing, and product strategy work.
- Presented the teams' research at the University of Washington's capstone night on May 28, sharing He@lio's vision with the broader academic community. UW iSchool announcement
Phase 6 — The Handoff
Six months of research, testing, and strategy came to a close as the teams finalized their University of Washington Capstone report and transferred the full body of project documentation to Compassion8Innovation for review.
- Completed and submitted the final Capstone report to the University of Washington, documenting the project's research methods, safety testing outcomes, and product strategy recommendations.
- Compiled and turned over all project documentation to the Compassion8Innovation team, ensuring a smooth transition as He@lio moves forward.
- Closed out the capstone partnership, with the teams' safety frameworks, market research, and design insights positioned to guide He@lio's continued development.
This six-month pilot program concluded in June 2026.
The teams' final University of Washington Capstone report and full project documentation have been handed over to Compassion8Innovation, where the safety frameworks, market research, and design insights will guide He@lio's continued development.
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