How can New Tech, like VR, Help Mental Illness?
CADmech Design deals with more than simply engineering and other enterprise related projects. At the core of who we are, we believe that our work should have a large impact on people’s lives, for the better. It is important to us to be able to create something to aid human life, even if it means stepping out of our comfort zone. Although more emphasis has been put on mental health these past few years, too many individuals still suffer from mental issues, and see no way to help themselves. It is our hope that we can harness the power of VR to provide some break from both common and more clinical mental health issues.
VR can assist in the mending of both common mental health issues (such as depression or anxiety) as well as more clinical mental health issues (such as dementia). As VR technology improves, it becomes more and more immersive and effective as ever, letting an individual truly believe they are in a different environment. More importantly than this, though, devices such as the Oculus Quest, allow for an easy to set up, portable and inexpensive way for anyone to begin experiencing VR.
VR for mental health takes on many different forms and can be as general or client specific as one would like. It’s important to remember that dealing with one’s mental issues is an extremely personal process and one must find what works for them. If dealing with anxiety, one approach might work with one person but not with another. It’s important to not get discouraged while trying to find a solution that can work for you.
VR and Therpay for Common Mental Illnesses
VR can help a condition, such as anxiety or PTSD, in much the same way as the condition would be helped in real life, however VR offers a safer and more controlled stepping stone towards healing. Exposure therapy has been a long-standing method to help treat or control anxiety, and it includes the therapist encouraging, or assisting, an individual to confront an anxiety, fear or trauma head on through experiencing it. For example, a person with PTSD may try to re-create some elements of their traumatic event to be able to almost re-live it and deal with it head-on to achieve healing. However, these situations may be dangerous, though, and might not be conducive to helping most people with their anxieties since it is an extreme method with so much danger and exposure. Of course, that is the point; however, using VR to create exposure little by little, and in different ways, until the individual can be exposed directly to what is causing them anxiety, will transform exposure therapy into a viable method of treatment for a far larger number of people. Being able to use VR alongside an existing method of treatment in such a way can increase success rates, create options, and give a lot of people hope.
VR for Self-Help and Therapist Interaction
Exposure therapy is not the only method for treatment; CADmech developed an app, “MentallyVR”, to assist cases of anxiety or depression. It is an app that allows for self reflection and even contact with a therapist. In the application, the user is put into a calming and immersive environment where they can choose to sit quietly with the natural noises, play calming music or play inspirational messages. A therapist can also call into the environment via mobile device or tablet. The user will see a small box appear in front of them with a view of their therapist. However, the user’s identity is concealed from the therapist to keep the conversation anonymous and confidential for the user. This application helps foster an environment where an individual can have an open conversation about their current issues and gives them a safe environment to communicate this to a professional.
VR for Clinical Mental Conditions
VR can also help with more clinical conditions as well. CADmech is currently working with a senior home in Ontario known as Yee Hong, a center for geriatric care, to create solutions for individuals who suffer from dementia. Dementia is an overarching term for diseases and conditions which result in memory decline, language and problem-solving skill decline, which ultimately leads an individual to struggle with everyday tasks. CADmech’s solution involves allowing the individuals to partake in hobbies that they enjoyed in their younger years, such as cooking. In this experience, the individual can partake in the virtual cooking of recipes in a safe manner, all while gamifying the experience so that the individual must remember the recipe procedures and ingredients in a timed setting. Professionals caring for these individuals will also be able to obtain valuable insights and data on the effectiveness of these experiences in helping the memory retention of the patient.
These two projects are merely first steps for CADmech and VR for mental health, but we recognize the importance of the field and look to constantly improve our platforms for the betterment of everyone around us. We can’t wait to work on more projects and help more people! If you would like to commission a solution for mental health for either yourself or organization, feel free to contact victor@cadmech.com to learn more and demo some of our creations.
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