Researchers are developing a personalised, rapeutic virtual reality (VR) tool which may enable new forms of self-reflection, and help improve and maintain positive mental health. VR tool being developed by researchers from University of Sheffield in UK can be used by people with common mental health problems to create an immersive version of ir journey through life. tool allows people to capture life events, uplo relevant digital content and reflect on ir thoughts and feelings in great detail, researchers said.

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Better mental health?

As well as helping with better mental health, this approach could also be beneficial for people in early sts of dementia, those receiving end-of-life care and those with diction problems or long-term physical conditions. Around one in four UK ults has a mental health condition, with depression and anxiety being most common, researchers said. re is a widely-recognised urgent need to find approaches to treatment which are cost effective and attractive, particularly for those who do t benefit from existing services, y said.

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'New ways of intervening faster...'

"With more people seeking help with mental health problems, and increasing pressure on existing services, new ways of intervening faster and more effectively to help people are needed, and use of new techlogy is one way of improving care; making it more personalised and engaging," said Chris Blackmore, from University of Sheffield's School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR). "Previous research has shown that recovery from an experience such as depression is a complex, personal journey and a proactive personalised approach to understanding people's individual needs would be a valuable component of treatment," said Blackmore.

"This narrative approach to treatment of common mental health problems is favoured by users of mental health services, but that level of choice is often unavailable. "We wanted to develop a tool which puts people's own personal experience at centre of things, and helps m to tell ir life-stories in a new way," he said.