Exploring VR in municipal mental health services: A pilot study

Area of Science:

• Mental Health
• Rehabilitation Technology
• Social Psychology

Background:

• Social isolation is a significant issue for individuals utilizing mental health services.
• Traditional social skills training may not adequately address the needs of all socially isolated persons.
• Virtual Reality (VR) technology presents a novel approach for therapeutic interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To pilot an 8-step social skills training program utilizing VR technology.
• To assess the feasibility and effectiveness of VR-based social skills training in a municipal mental health setting.
• To evaluate the impact of the VR program on the social skills and quality of life of participants.

Main Methods:

• 14 mental health service users participated in the pilot program.
• An 8-step social skills training program was delivered using VR technology.
• Data on participant experiences and outcomes were collected by 8 mental health professionals.

Main Results:

• Participants were initially living socially isolated lives with complex social and personal challenges.
• Seven participants completed the program, and seven did not.
• Positive effects on social skills were observed in those who completed the program and two who did not complete due to early recovery.

Conclusions:

• The VR social skills training program shows promising results for socially isolated individuals.
• Further development of high-quality, flexible VR scenarios is recommended.
• VR technology has the potential to increase social activity and improve the quality of life for those experiencing social isolation.