The 2021 Unity for Humanity Summit kicked off on Tuesday and opened with a discussion on how real-time 3D (RT3D) content can improve mental health via virtual, augmented, mixed, and extended reality (VR/AR/MR/XR) solutions.
Melissa Painter, founder of Breakthru, hosted talks with Sarah Hill, CEO of Healium, Rosemary Lockhorst, Founder and CEO of Storybyte Studio, and Artist Gabriel Torres.
The speakers discussed the benefits RT3D graphics bring to mental health and wellness through XR immersive experiences.
Developing Immersive Therapy for Wellbeing
Immersive mental health therapy created digital safe space for patients to express themselves and build a positive mindset using XR features such as 3D visuals, immersive environments, and spatial audio, Mrs Hill said in her discussion.
She noted the benefits of a healthy ‘media diet’ to tackle negative online media habits and how immersive technology can create positive spaces.
Hill founded Healium after leaving her job as a journalist at AMI due to stress from covering tragic stories and the aftermath of the tsunamis in Sri Lanka and Indonesia, which pushed her to develop a solution.
“The AMI job made me sick. I started struggling with insomnia, which led to panic attacks, and I developed Healium for me as well as the millions of people who struggle with anxiety and want to feel better, perform better, and sleep better”
Healium provides a VR and AR solution that uses biometric data from wearables to create adaptive immersive experiences, reduce stress, and improve one’s “healing powers.”
The Role of Narrative Therapy
Rosemary Lockhart added how Storybyte Studio used VR narrative therapy to help teenagers struggling with stress, anxiety, and depression.
Narrative therapy emphasises storytelling to help individuals develop and carry themselves while under intense stress by revisiting traumatic events.
Storybyte Studio empowers users by providing them with an immersive digital safe space with video game interactions where they can artistically express themselves.
“There’s some game mechanics in some exercises, wisdoms, you know, things that they can find [in the environment] so they can learn social [and] emotional skills, and they can learn to take an active role in their mental wellness”
Furthermore, Gabriel Torres added immersive experiences for mental wellbeing must correctly reflect and give back to an individual or a group of users, adding his immersive therapy sessions in New York use storytelling to give “resources out to the community.”
He concluded, stating,
“I honestly believe that it’s not enough for us to see ourselves reflected in the stories that we make, but if we’re commodifying stories in a financial way, or in a personal way, we need to figure out a way to functionally give back and to give resources [to communities] and truly figure out a way [to heal]”
