THE VRCOM PROJECT
This video will introduce you to an exciting new research project investigating how virtual reality can be used to support people experiencing depression
New technologies provide more opportunities than ever before to work creatively with people affected by depression. One of these technologies is virtual reality, which can create an artificial three-dimensional environment with features that the user can interact with using a headset and motion sensors like these.
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Software developers, like those who design computer games, can create all different kinds of virtual scenarios for the user to interact with. This gives researchers like us the freedom to create scenarios to help people experiencing depression practice skills and techniques to help them feel better.
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Self-compassion is something that can be helpful to people who live with depression and other mental health problems in a number of ways. These include things like soothing ourselves when we feel upset, understanding how our minds and bodies respond to things we find threatening, and becoming less self-critical. Through learning about and practicing self-compassion we can build a healthier relationship with our bodies and minds.
Our research aims to bring together self-compassion and virtual reality to create a new treatment option for people affected by depression. We’ve been designing and trying out a new intervention which uses the possibilities of technology and the active input of people who have experienced depression themselves. Our hope is to be part of a future where people living with depression have a greater range of options to help them feel better, in ways that work for them.
The virtual reality intervention has been developed with people who have experienced depression personally. The mental health charity Mind have been a partner in this project and, through them, a range of different people affected by depression have been involved in a variety of ways. This includes being members of the research team, giving advice on a regular basis, and joining focus groups.
It also includes people who took part in the next stage of the research, which was a feasibility trial called VRCom-F
