Wan Marzuki Bin Wan Jaffar, Arbin Janu Setiyowati, Khairul Bariyyah, Awalya Siska Pratiwi, Hengki Tri Hidayatullah
Sexual harassment among secondary-school and university students remains a critical issue that often receives insufficient attention in educational settings, leaving many survivors without adequate access to psychosocial support. This study reports the design and initial implementation of a mobile-application-based intervention aimed at fostering recovery and empowerment for survivors of sexual violence in higher-education environments. Grounded in trauma-informed care and a digital-counselling framework, the intervention integrates self-help modules, cognitive-behavioral strategies, and referral features that connect users to professional services. A mixed-methods approach was employed, encompassing needs assessment, expert validation, and a usability trial with participants comprising survivors and counselling practitioners. Preliminary findings indicate that the application significantly enhances users' sense of empowerment, emotion regulation, and readiness to seek further help. The study contributes to the development of technology-based mental-health interventions and highlights the potential of mobile platforms to create inclusive, accessible support systems within educational contexts. Implications for educational policy, digital ethics, and future scalability are also discussed. © 2025 IEEE.
University Putra Malaysia, Dept. Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology, Malaysia; Universitas Negeri Malang, Dept. of Guidance and Counseling, Malang, Indonesia
