We live in the loneliest era,
whilst being constantly connected
to the whole world.
We can be so caught up in how hectic modern life can be: a lot is expected of us. This is our attempt to restore what we've lost.
When's the last time you just picked up the phone and called a friend?
Apparently people used to do that. And there's a good chance they'd strike up a genuine conversation, fostering friendships that last a lifetime: spontaneous soulful conversations that seed sincere friendships.
However, most don't have this luxury. Nowadays, being a "responsible adult" and finding your footing in a shrinking job market is draining enough. Not to mention the stress of never getting to own their rented one bedroom apartment.
It is no surprise that we never want to make the time to connect with our friends. I mean really connect with them: Not just watching their stories on IG or maintaining your snapchat streak.
The Impossible Social Demand
Personally, it sounds impossible to keep up with the social commitments that create a nourishing social life: Birthdays? Celebrating milestones? Planning regular activities? Even organizing a group dinner can be hard.
Multiply this by the number of close friends and family we need, and now we have a problem.
"Some resort to a total rejection of technology and the pace of modern life, while others merely drown themselves to the rhythm of its tides."
But how do people balance intentional living with the ever changing demands of the world around us?
The Journaling Paradox
Self awareness, mindfulness, and journalling have always been ways to bring ourselves back to the present. But there's a problem.
Takes Effort
Writing, self reflection, and growth take a lot of manual effort that most people can't sustain.
No Guidance
Modern apps provide little guidance to the average user who are unaware of the benefits.
Stick With It
Only 8% of people who start journaling maintain the habit beyond 2 weeks.
The Stigma Problem
Many cultures around the world have a strong prejudice against any mention of mental health—as it's perceived to only be for people who are literally insane. These factors deter many people from ever picking up the lost art of regular documentation and reflection.
Pervasive Cultural Stigma
Mental health equals personal weakness or shame. "Saving face" culture prevents seeking any support. Social exclusion and career damage if discovered.
Global, amplified in AsiaSevere Infrastructure Shortage
Major shortage of mental health professionals worldwide. In some regions, 1 psychiatrist per 100,000+ people. Rural areas often have zero facilities.
Low & middle income countriesEconomic Constraints
Limited budgets prioritize communicable diseases. Limited insurance coverage for mental health. Therapy sessions cost $100-200+ each.
GlobalAwareness Gap
Limited public awareness of mental health. Scarce educational campaigns. Widespread misconceptions prevent recognizing when help is needed.
Developing regionsCareer Consequences
In many industries, seeking mental health support is seen as weakness. Can impact promotions, security clearances, and professional reputation.
High-pressure industries globallyThe Asia-Pacific Reality
For ambitious professionals, particularly in cultures in Asia, admitting fault or needing 'therapy' carries significant stigma and violates the cultural need to 'save face'.
9 AM to 9 PM, 6 days a week
Standard in many Asian tech companies
24/7 on-call for elite performers
The "always available" expectation
Economic burden (China & India, 2016-2030)
From untreated mental health issues
Of world population in Asia-Pacific
Only 5% of global mental health market
Asia-Pacific represents 60% of the world's population, but only 5% of the global mental health market. This isn't lack of need—it's lack of culturally-appropriate solutions.
The Reframing
AI has been grossly misused as a tool to automate away the human touch of many tasks and even jobs.
However we believe we found a middle ground between technology and humanity:
What if instead, AI guided users with targeted questions to fish out authentic answers?
This led to My Second Brain:
A mental health app disguised as a tool for automated life intelligence.
Therapy Disguised as Executive Intelligence
By framing the intervention as a tool for Executive Clarity and competitive advantage, the system delivers therapeutic insight while strictly avoiding stigmatized terms.
| Clinical Term | Our Framing | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive Behavioral Therapy | Cognitive Pattern Recognition | Data analysis, not therapy |
| Challenging Distorted Thinking | Assumption Checker | Executive decision-making |
| Therapeutic Reflection | Objective Self-Correction | Quality control process |
| Mood Tracking | Behavioral Analysis | Productivity metrics |
| Self-Awareness | Blind Spot Detection | Risk management |
Zero Friction. Zero Effort.
The proactive UX is frictionless, effortless, and requires no mandatory user input to get value out of it.
Just scan QR code to login, that's it. Your Second Brain will build itself and start to emit insights, suggestions, or things you might have forgotten.
Therapy, behavioral analysis, and accountability checking don't come cheap; most people cannot afford the luxury of mental health support.
Our solution may not need to be perfect, because it's better than not having anything at all.
That's the only action required
From your existing conversations
Proactively, without being asked
The Vision
For me, this isn't just about building software—it's about building something that mirrors human memory.
The system is a kind of "second brain" that listens, organizes, and reflects back meaning. Over time, it could grow into a trusted companion that not only keeps track of life, but also helps make sense of it.
"To be crazy is to believe in something that doesn't exist yet."
Built for the World, Not Just the West
We designed for Asia from day one, not as an afterthought adaptation.
Never Frame As:
- ✕ "Therapy"
- ✕ "Mental health support"
- ✕ "Self-help"
- ✕ "Emotional improvement"
- ✕ "Treatment" or "clinical"
Frame It As:
- ✓ "Professional intelligence system"
- ✓ "Relationship harmony optimizer"
- ✓ "Reputation protection through pattern analysis"
- ✓ "Executive clarity tool"
- ✓ "Blind spot detection for leaders"
Result: Delivers therapeutic benefits, captures mental health value, zero stigma.
Platform Agnostic by Design
We meet people where they already are—no new apps to download, no new habits to form.
Everyone deserves mental clarity.
Regardless of culture, stigma, or circumstance. This is our attempt to make that possible—not by replacing human connection, but by helping people understand themselves well enough to connect more deeply.
"It takes a lot of pain to make a mental health app with love."