Mental disorders affect one in every eight people, or 970 million people across the globe, according to the World Health Organization. These numbers are worse for younger people as they appear to be the most affected by social tensions, economic instability, and random violence worldwide.
Fortunately, Virtual Reality (VR) has potentially powerful technology that can help enhance mental health assessment and improve treatment. This is good news because an increasing number of young people use VR to play games, says Alex Kipman, a tech enthusiast and innovator.
How Virtual Reality Works
Studies have shown that VR can help treat mental conditions such as anxiety, depression, and phobias. It has already been used to treat various mental or neurological disorders and was mainly successful in the following conditions:
● Phobias
● Anxiety disorders
● Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
● Labor and delivery
● Schizophrenia
● Paranoia
● Chronic pain management
According to Alex Kipman, VR therapy works by exposing patients to their anxiety triggers within a controlled environment. The objective is to allow patients to respond positively to events that bring their specific anxiety. Today, VR is affordable, and its impact cannot go unnoticed.
Benefits of VR in Mental Health
Here are a few reasons VR is the next big thing that will transform mental health care.
Faster Precise Diagnosis
Mental health disorders are diverse in nature. That means no two people will share similar triggers and symptoms. Researchers and therapists had to find a way to put different patients in the same scenario to get objective results. Similarly, clinicians can place patients in everyday situations to help come up with a diagnosis and treatment.
Affordable Mental Health Treatment
The more common VR gets, the more affordable it becomes. Self–guided VR therapies can be put in books, and people who don’t have money or time for personalized treatment can find help through therapy, suggests Alex Kipman. Therapies today can be conducted anywhere via the internet. Patients don’t have to drive miles to get to a psychiatrist. All they need is high-quality internet.
Higher Quality Treatment for All
The best therapists are not available or affordable for every patient. The cost in different locations can create a wall between high-quality treatment and patients that need help. VR therapy offers superior treatment methods that allow patients more control over their own exposure.
Virtual reality experiences are highly interactive, allowing patients to maintain a sense of control even as they experience triggers. The technology enables health practitioners to create highly personalized treatment plans based on a patient’s unique needs. Tech Innovators like Alex Kipman believe a well-designed VR treatment program can offer improved cost-effectiveness over conventional treatment programs.
Sense Activation
VR activates more than the visual senses. The stimulation of other senses can turn the therapy into a whole experience. Multisensory VR systems can create a realistic environment that improves exposure therapy.
Promotes the Importance of Mental Health
As mental health cases increase worldwide, things are starting to look up, with researchers finding ways to improve current treatment methods. That means we can expect more from VR in mental health and overall well-being.
