ARC: Action, Resources, Care

ARC: Confidential support when you need it most

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Inspiration

Our inspiration for ARC came directly from the lived experiences of firefighters in our own team’s families. In discussions with one member’s father and brother, both firefighters. they highlighted how difficult calls often linger long after the shift ends. The problem is serious: past studies show that first responders are more likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty. To validate, we interviewed 41 first responders about resources and mental health:

  • 61% said they knew about department resources, but do not use them.
  • 41% reported that a call sometimes affects them after shift.
  • Top reasons for not using resources: 40% stigma/fear of judgment, 27.5% discomfort talking directly to someone.

These findings show both a need and a want: first responders want confidential, stigma-free support in a form they will actually use.

What it does

ARC is a mobile app that:

  • Provides quick, app-based check-ins after difficult calls, enhanced with AI.
  • Automatic call transcript analysis to detect high-intensity calls and trigger check-ins.
  • Connects users to schedule to communicate with union therapists, personal therapists, peer mentors, or trusted contacts.
  • Includes a resource library: hotlines, guides, articles, and videos.
  • Keeps everything confidential, user-driven, and stigma-reducing.

How we built it

  • Frontend: React Native with Expo & TypeScript.
  • Design: Figma mockups and flows, Interview: Google Forms
  • Backend: Flask, mongoDB to store the database

Challenges we ran into

  • Designing empathetic wording that feels supportive but not clinical that may deter users.
  • Coordinating branching + merging across 4 developers in one repo.
  • Making the UI intuitive.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

  • Deployed a working multi-screen mobile app in under 36 hours.
  • Interviewed 41 real first responders to guide features to guide design.
  • Created resource pages with both text articles and video links.
  • Built a custom bottom nav bar for clean navigation.

What we learned

  • How to combine technical speed with user-centered design under a short timeline.
  • The importance of language and framing in encouraging responders to use wellness tools.

What's next for ARC: Action, Resources, Care

  • Peer mentor chat in-app.
  • Smarter AI chatbot for personalized grounding tips.
  • More follow-ups after difficult calls (not just immediate).
  • Family integration: option for Emergency/trusted contact notification after a tough call.
  • Full secure backend with encryption for data safety.
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