Authors: Stephanie Liddicoat, Stephen Yuen
Year: 2018
Event: 2018 TheMHS Conference
Subject: Mind Your Head: Exploring the Potential of Virtual Reality for Therapeutic Support
Type of resource: Conference Presentations and Papers
ISBN: 978-0-9945702-3-9
Abstract:
With recent developments in technology and advanced modelling systems, novel forms of therapeutic intervention are now possible. Virtual reality has already been used to treat mental health conditions such as phobia, psychosis and depression. As a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder, virtual reality graded exposure therapy involved patients examining their fears related to his or her trauma in a controlled, simulated environment using VR. Further, such technological advancements allow for increased user-customisable experiences including treatment availability, content and delivery environment. However, virtual reality’s recent growth and availability means the technology’s potential is ahead of the research. This paper will investigate how virtual reality experiences can be designed to effectively improve the mental health and wellbeing of service users. This will be explored through findings obtained from a study investigating participant responses to virtual reality environments and the integration of virtual reality into mental health service delivery. This will be further explored through a case study involving a developing virtual reality application aimed to assist individuals coping with social anxiety. This paper will conclude with the significant advantages uncovered specifically in reference to virtual reality, and its implications for mental health service delivery, consumer self-management and other therapeutic support.
HOW TO REFERENCE THIS PAPER
Liddicoat, S, Yuen, S, "Mind Your Head: Exploring the Potential of Virtual Reality for Therapeutic Support" (2018), Hear the Whisper, Not the Roar Contemporary TheMHS in Mental Health Services, Adelaide Conference Proceedings 2018, TheMHS Conference, Adelaide, Australia
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