Interviewed By Akhlaqur Rahman Sachee, Team MBR

Relaxy provides a platform where everyone can share and talk about their emotions without any hesitation or fear of being judged. It emphasises the importance of peer support and has created a supportive community on the Relaxy app where users can connect and discuss mental health matters with peers in their network. The app also provides users with the option to connect with licenced mental health professionals for personalised care and guidance, regardless of time and place. Team MBR was in conversation with the co-founder and CEO of Relaxy, Ms. Jahnnobi Rahman, and learned about her inspirations to form Relaxy and her aspirations for the startup.

Akhlaqur Rahman Sachee: As a computer science graduate, you are leading Relaxy, a tech startup that aims to address mental health issues among youth. Would you kindly share with us the factors that motivated you to form the startup and how your academic background helped you integrate technology with the mental health niche?

Jahnnobi Rahman: Back in 2020, when I was an undergrad student, I was diagnosed with depressive and anxiety disorders. To seek expert consultation, I tried to make an appointment with a psychologist. However, I faced many difficulties because of the long waiting time for the appointment, and the last-minute cancellation made it even worse. This particular event in my life made me realise the void in finding the right specialist at the right time. It motivated me to create a safe space where youths can share their mental struggles anonymously without fear of being judged. Being a computer science graduate, I was surely privileged to be equipped with the prior knowledge and skills required to explore the digital space to provide the solution I intended to offer to address mental health issues.

Akhlaqur Rahman Sachee: Mental health issues are still one of those topics about which people of all demographics are less comfortable speaking up. Would you kindly shed some light on Relaxy’s efforts to raise awareness among the masses regarding mental health?

Jahnnobi Rahman: Relaxy is committed to breaking the barriers youths face to opening up about their mental struggles. We utilise social media platforms to share informative contents, real-life stories, and practical tips to overcome the challenges youths face. By leveraging the power of digital communities, we are providing a safe space for people to express themselves and seek support without the fear of judgment. In addition to that, Relaxy facilitates individuals to connect with mental health professionals and learn coping mechanisms in a supportive environment. Furthermore, Relaxy collaborates with organisations to normalise discussions regarding emotional well-being and spreads knowledge and resources to promote awareness.

Akhlaqur Rahman Sachee: Relaxy offers a platform where users can seek support from peer users. May we know how Relaxy ensures that all the users on the platform are complying with the community standards?

Jahnnobi Rahman: Relaxy allows users to seek support from peer users while ensuring that the users on the platform are in compliance with specific community guidelines. After a user posts anything on the platform using the Relaxy app, it undergoes scrutiny and requires approval from the admins. Once it is made sure that the post complies with the app's community guidelines, it is made public. Relaxy is devoted to providing a space where everyone feels safe and no one feels uncomfortable because of the actions of others.

Akhlaqur Rahman Sachee: Users of the Relaxy app can book sessions with psychologists and counsellors through the app. Would you kindly share with us the selection criteria that Relaxy follows while onboarding psychologists and counsellors so that the users receive the best services?

Jahnnobi Rahman: Relaxy upholds the quality of its services by employing rigorous selection criteria for onboarding psychologists and counselors. Supervised by an advisory team comprising Dr. Ashique Selim, Managing Director of Psychological Health & Wellness Care, and Tahasin Alam, Chief Technology Officer of Belong Health, Relaxy ensures that professionals meet the required qualifications to provide expert consultations to the users. This approach guarantees that users receive the best services, enhancing their experiences with the app.

Akhlaqur Rahman Sachee: It has been observed that mental health problems arise from diversified issues such as family issues, workplace issues, loneliness, stress, traumas, and so on. How does Relaxy address the mental health problems of a diversified user base?

Jahnnobi Rahman: As the user base of Relaxy is diverse and may have mental health issues arising from unique experiences, the app employs an early disorder detection tool to address this matter. A detection method is used to identify the probable mental health disorder. Based on the detected probable mental health disorder, the users are guided to different services based on their unique needs.

Akhlaqur Rahman Sachee: The Relaxy app has already been downloaded more than 50,000 times, and there are more than 15,000 active users. Would you kindly share how Relaxy makes money out of the services it provides to its users and the revenue streams of Relaxy?

Jahnnobi Rahman: Relaxy is currently being operated following a freemium model where users can access basic features such as chatting with peers, posting on the platform, self-care contents, etc. for free. However, to avail premium features such as chat sessions with experts, continuous empathetic support from Relaxy Support, meditations, and so on, they need to subscribe to Relaxy Premium, which starts at BDT 399 only for a period of 15 days. Users can also book counselling sessions and chat sessions with psychologists using the Relaxy app. Chat sessions start at BDT 399 only, and counselling sessions start at BDT 699 only.

Akhlaqur Rahman Sachee: It has been reported on the news that Relaxy received pre-seed funding from the SAJIDA Foundation in 2023. May we know how Relaxy is planning to scale up its operation in the future?

Jahnnobi Rahman: After receiving pre-seed funding from the SAJIDA Foundation in 2023, Relaxy aims to scale up its operations effectively. It plans to allocate 45% of the funding to tech and R&D, 30% to marketing, 15% to operations, and 10% to HR and personnel. This strategic distribution of resources is expected to fuel Relaxy's growth and expansion endeavors.

Akhlaqur Rahman Sachee: You have been named one of the Forbes 30 Under 30 from Asia in the Social Impact category, which is surely an international recognition of your noble endeavor. Do you have plans to make Relaxy go global and serve international youth communities?

Jahnnobi Rahman: Being honoured with a position in the Forbes 30 Under 30 from Asia, Relaxy is entitled to more responsibilities to address mental health issues around the world. It is committed to making mental health services accessible and affordable for everyone. Currently, Relaxy is focusing on the Bangladeshi market. By 2025, the startup will scale to other Asian markets, including Indonesia, Vietnam, Nepal, and some other countries.