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Check-in

Understanding Your Check-in Recommendations

Learn how the AI analyzes your check-ins and provides personalized suggestions for wellness actions.

After you save a check-in, Sunu's AI may analyze your entry in the context of your recent history and provide a personalized recommendation.

What Are Recommendations?

Recommendations are suggestions for actions you can take based on your current state and recent patterns.

When They Appear

After completing a check-in:

  • AI analyzes your entry
  • Compares to recent history
  • Identifies helpful actions
  • Displays on a recommendation card

Triggers for recommendations:

  • Persistent low mood
  • High symptom severity
  • Positive mood streaks
  • Pattern changes
  • Concerning trends

Types of Recommendations

Start an Assessment

When suggested:

  • You've reported feeling down for several days
  • Anxiety symptoms are frequent
  • Mood patterns suggest screening needed
  • Mental health concerns present

What it offers:

  • PHQ-9 (depression screening)
  • GAD-7 (anxiety screening)
  • Other validated assessments
  • Professional evaluation guidance

Why it helps:

  • Quantifies symptom severity
  • Provides standardized measurement
  • Helps determine if professional help needed
  • Tracks changes over time

Set a Reminder

When suggested:

  • You log a trackable symptom
  • Need to monitor a condition
  • Medication timing matters
  • Regular measurement helpful

Examples:

  • "Feeling dizzy? Set a reminder to check blood pressure"
  • "Headaches frequent? Remind yourself to log water intake"
  • "Low energy? Remember to take vitamin D"

Why it helps:

  • Ensures consistent monitoring
  • Catches patterns early
  • Maintains treatment adherence
  • Builds healthy habits

Lifestyle Suggestions

When suggested:

  • Patterns indicate lifestyle factors
  • Self-care could help current state
  • Known interventions exist
  • Preventive measures appropriate

Common suggestions:

For low energy or fatigue:

  • Focus on sleep hygiene
  • Review caffeine intake
  • Check vitamin levels
  • Increase physical activity

For anxiety or stress:

  • Try breathing exercises
  • Practice mindfulness
  • Reduce caffeine
  • Maintain regular sleep schedule

For low mood:

  • Get sunlight exposure
  • Engage in social activities
  • Exercise regularly
  • Consider therapy

For physical symptoms:

  • Stay hydrated
  • Adjust dietary habits
  • Monitor posture
  • Rest adequately

Content Prompts

When suggested:

  • You're feeling good
  • Positive mood detected
  • Good opportunity for reflection
  • Gratitude practice helpful

Examples:

  • "You're feeling great! Journal about what's contributing to your positive state"
  • "Three days of good mood—what's working well?"
  • "High energy today—capture your thoughts"

Why it helps:

  • Reinforces positive behaviors
  • Identifies success factors
  • Builds gratitude practice
  • Creates positive reference points

Understanding the Rationale

Each recommendation includes an explanation of why it's being suggested, helping you connect your feelings to actionable steps.

What the Rationale Explains

The pattern observed:

  • "You've reported low mood for 5 consecutive days"
  • "Your energy has been declining this week"
  • "Headaches logged 4 times this week"

Why it matters:

  • Health implications
  • Potential concerns
  • Benefits of addressing it

How the suggestion helps:

  • What the action accomplishes
  • Expected benefits
  • Connection to your pattern

Acting on Recommendations

Taking the Suggested Action

Step 1: Review the recommendation card

Step 2: Read the rationale carefully

Step 3: Decide if it's appropriate for you

Step 4: Tap the action button to proceed:

  • "Start Assessment" → Opens screening tool
  • "Set Reminder" → Creates reminder
  • "Learn More" → Provides resources
  • "Journal Now" → Opens reflection prompt

Dismissing Recommendations

If not relevant:

Step 1: Tap "Dismiss" or the X button

Step 2: The recommendation is removed

Step 3: Won't appear again for this pattern

Why dismiss:

  • Already addressing the issue
  • Not appropriate for your situation
  • Prefer different intervention
  • Recently completed suggested action

Recommendation Examples

Scenario 1: Persistent Low Mood

Your check-ins:

  • 5 days of unpleasant mood
  • Low energy consistently
  • Fatigue and low motivation symptoms

Recommendation: "You've reported feeling down for several days. Consider taking the PHQ-9 depression screening to better understand your symptoms."

Rationale: "Persistent low mood for more than 2 weeks can be a sign of depression. A validated screening helps quantify symptom severity and guide next steps, including whether to seek professional help."

Scenario 2: Frequent Headaches

Your check-ins:

  • Headaches logged 4 times this week
  • Severity ranging 5-8
  • Often in afternoon

Recommendation: "You've been experiencing frequent headaches. Set a reminder to track your water intake and caffeine consumption."

Rationale: "Dehydration and caffeine can trigger headaches. Tracking these factors helps identify if they're contributing to your symptoms and guides effective interventions."

Scenario 3: High Anxiety

Your check-ins:

  • Anxious emotions daily
  • Racing thoughts symptom
  • High energy + unpleasant mood quadrant

Recommendation: "Your recent check-ins show elevated anxiety. Try this 5-minute guided breathing exercise."

Rationale: "Anxiety activates the sympathetic nervous system. Breathing exercises engage the parasympathetic system, helping calm your body's stress response. Regular practice can reduce overall anxiety levels."

Scenario 4: Positive Streak

Your check-ins:

  • 7 days of pleasant moods
  • High energy and enthusiasm
  • No concerning symptoms

Recommendation: "You've been feeling great this week! Take a moment to journal about what's contributing to your positive state."

Rationale: "Identifying factors that support your well-being helps you maintain good mental health. Documenting these patterns provides a reference for difficult times."

Customizing Recommendations

Feedback on Recommendations

Rate helpfulness:

  • Thumbs up for useful suggestions
  • Thumbs down for irrelevant ones
  • Helps AI learn your preferences

Result:

  • Future recommendations improve
  • Less relevant suggestions decrease
  • More personalized over time

Privacy Settings

Control recommendation display:

  • Turn off specific types
  • Adjust frequency
  • Disable entirely if preferred

How to adjust:

Step 1: Go to Profile > Settings

Step 2: Find "Check-in Recommendations"

Step 3: Toggle types on/off

Step 4: Save preferences

When to Act on Recommendations

Trust Your Judgment

Consider:

  • Does this make sense for me?
  • Am I ready for this action?
  • Is the timing right?
  • Do I have resources to follow through?

Remember:

  • Recommendations are suggestions, not requirements
  • You know yourself best
  • Professional advice supersedes app suggestions
  • It's okay to decline recommendations

Seeking Professional Help

Always prioritize professional care when:

  • Recommendations suggest assessments
  • Symptoms are severe or worsening
  • Safety concerns present
  • Functioning significantly impaired
  • You're unsure about next steps

How recommendations help:

  • Provide concrete data for appointments
  • Show pattern documentation
  • Offer starting point for discussion
  • Track intervention effectiveness

Tips for Maximum Benefit

Take Recommendations Seriously

When patterns are identified:

  • Consider the suggestion carefully
  • Research the recommended action
  • Discuss with healthcare provider
  • Track results if you follow through

Follow Through Consistently

If you accept a recommendation:

  • Complete the suggested action
  • Track the results
  • Note any changes in subsequent check-ins
  • Adjust based on outcomes

Provide Feedback

Help improve future recommendations:

  • Rate each recommendation
  • Note what worked or didn't
  • Suggest alternative actions
  • Share with healthcare provider

🎯 Action Tip

When you receive a recommendation to start an assessment (like PHQ-9), take it seriously. These suggestions are based on validated patterns in mental health research. Even if you don't feel it's necessary, completing the screening provides objective data that may reveal important insights.

💡 Integration Tip

Use recommendations as conversation starters with your therapist or doctor. Mention: "My health app noticed I've been feeling down and suggested a depression screening. Here are my results." This bridges self-tracking with professional care.

⚠️ Important Note

Recommendations are based on patterns and research, but they're not medical advice. Always consult healthcare professionals for diagnosis and treatment. The app is a tool to support your care, not replace it.