18A – Create a Customer Avatar
My product could be used by anyone regardless of their age, weight, size, gender, socio-economic status, ethnicity, etc. Ultimately, mental health cannot conform to one type of person. For this assignment, we will make the avatar a college-aged student, who has had a very difficult year, and identifies as male, Jerry. Jerry was hit by a bus, rejected from his friend group, sexually assaulted and experienced family trauma in the past eighteen months. He called to make an appointment at his local university’s counselors but they are booked solid and cannot see him due to overflowing numbers of students seeking therapy. Because of this he kills himself, Jerry is dead, my product could have saved his valuable life because would not even have to seek out mental health counseling from any form because it would be an underlying cause looked at in every doctor’s visit, or chat with an advisor, or professor. By removing the issues from the daily life doesn’t remove them from one’s psyche, these experiences need to be felt and talked about because deep-down they are still going on. No-one should end-up like Jerry.
What do I have in common with Jerry? Not much, he is a fictional microcosm of what is occurring in our society today, and he is dead. The overall problem here is how we go about dealing with these mental health disparities that are occurring all around us but are seemingly unknown to others. Because my major is neuropsychology I feel pigeon-holed and lost, when it comes to this class, probably similar to how Jerry felt when he was seeking mental health help to no avail.
Honestly, I find this assignment to be a little disrespectful because it feeds into stereotypes and derogatory themes, when concerning mental health statuses.
Caroline, mental health is undoubtedly a very sensitive topic to discuss. It affects so many different people across all nations, ethnicities, and religions. I strongly believe that anything that you can do in order to help people along though their life journey is commendable. I think that you product is an amazing thing that could potentially help a lot of people far into the future. This definitely is one business idea that I hope comes to fruition.
ReplyDeleteCaroline,
ReplyDeleteYour customer avatar was very specific and detailed and showed exactly what the benefits of your product are. In fact, it shows that it can actually save people's lives. I agree that this assignment draws upon stereotypes which can be problematic with your topic of mental health issues. Your customer base will be people who come from different backgrounds and have vastly different stories, therefore not fitting into any one stereotype or theme.
Hi Caroline,
ReplyDeleteWhile mental health is nothing to be made fun of or meant to be spoken about in a rude manner, I do agree with you that this assignment is stereotypical. I don't believe that the point of the assignment is to be disrespectful, but to actually find the similarities of your target audience. I think with a business idea like yours, it can be disrespectful because mental health is an issue for everyone, not anyone in specific.
Hey Caroline, your product is very easily relating to all type of people which is really diverse. Its nice that your avatars story is a male who has been through some really tragic stuff that doesn't get talked about much, especially when it comes to guys. I'm sure your product would help him.
ReplyDelete