Tech solutions help young people overcome anxieties

ACTION

Virtual Reality (VR) is not in itself a therapy, explains Kirsten Naudé, director of new ventures at The Children’s Society, but a “useful tool in the practitioners’ toolbox”.

The charity is conducting research into how the technology could reduce mild anxiety in young people, when facing challenges such as in school or in care.

Naudé believes that by offering an almost real world experience, VR can “help practitioners to engage well with young people and build positive relationships”.

“VR can be emotive, immersive, fun and as such offer an alternative engagement tool for discussing and helping to deal with difficult topics,” she says.

The charity knew from practitioners at its Birmingham mental health drop-in service Pause, that communicating about anxiety is a big challenge for young people, and this can delay them recieving the right support.