# Exploring VR in municipal mental health services: A pilot study

## TL;DR

This pilot study explores using VR for social skills training in mental health services and shows positive effects for socially isolated individuals.

## Contribution

The study introduces an 8-step VR program for social skills training in a municipal mental health context.

## Key findings

- Seven participants completed the VR program and experienced improved social skills.
- Two participants stopped isolating themselves before completing the program and also reported positive effects.
- VR technology shows potential to help socially isolated individuals become more socially active.

## Abstract

Introduction: The study reports the results from piloting an 8-step program for social skills training using VR technology in a municipal mental health service.

Method: 14 mental health service users were recruited to test the 8-step programme. Eight mental health professionals delivered the programme and registered information about the participants and their experiences.

Results: All participants lived socially isolated lives before they started, and various social and personal problems contributed to the complexity of their situation. Seven participants completed the programme, while seven did not. Two participants did not complete because they stopped isolating themselves before completing and these two, and the seven that completed the programme, experienced a positive effect on their social skills. Two of those who did not complete were able to attend group therapy sessions instead, and two were too ill to complete. The last one just stopped showing up to the appointments.

Conclusion: The pilot study shows promising results and efforts should now be made to develop relevant, flexible, and high-quality VR scenarios, as this technology has the potential to help socially isolated persons become more socially active and thus increase their quality of life.