Self-guided travel therapy training in VR/AR for Mental Wellness

Researchers from Ohio University have found that people can relieve stress by viewing natural landscapes using virtual reality headsets.

Knowing that people's heart rate and blood pressure drop, as well as the production of cortisol, the stress hormone, when outdoors, the researchers wondered if this could be the case in nature, recreated in virtual reality in front of a person's eyes. More specifically, can simulations of nature reduce the stress of people working in healthcare facilities during a pandemic?

Each participant put on a virtual reality headset and watched a three-minute video of lush green nature. Notably, VR headsets have allowed users to turn their heads to look around as if surrounded by trees, flowers, or flowing water and hear the sounds of birds, the breeze, or the murmur of water. Each volunteer was also asked about their stress levels before and after watching the video.

The researchers found that the volunteers rated their stress level at an average of 5.5 on a scale of 1 to 10 before watching the video. This figure dropped to 3.3 after watching the video. The researchers also noted that those volunteers who reported a stress level above 6.8 before watching the video had a 32.4% reduction in stress levels to 3.9 after watching the video.

Researchers worldwide believe virtual reality could be a relatively simple and inexpensive way for hospitals and other medical institutions to reduce stress on patients and hospital staff.

Mental health today includes an urgent problem - the syndrome of emotional burnout, and this is super relevant for workers in various types of organizations. People burn out and get tired because they are exhausted physically and morally, including social fears (public speaking and others), problems with communication in a team, and other anxieties.

Negative consequences of the syndrome of emotional burnout

1) Health
The risk of developing coronary heart disease, stroke, and chronic disease worsening increases. Emotional burnout syndrome can be complicated by depression, anxiety disorders, addictions to psychoactive substances, psychosomatic illnesses, and suicide.

2) Personal life
The need to get away from all people for a while, the desire for loneliness, and irritation are realized at the expense of family and friends.

3) Work

• deterioration in the quality of performance
• loss of creativity in problem-solving
• feeling of emotional exhaustion
• indifferent attitude towards clients, partners, or colleagues
• a decrease in the desire for self-realization
• decreased confidence in their competence
• decrease in belief in success
• increase in the number of conflicts
• increase in the number of errors
• absenteeism

Immerse yourself in our unique locations filmed in various parts of the world! Inside our VR app, you will have access to travel therapy, which allows you to travel without leaving your home or office. Today, there are various travel options available:

• Waterfalls Australia
• Mountain ranges of Austria and Germany
• Fields and meadows in Germany
• Australian beaches and oceans
• Panoramic views of the mountains of Norway
• And many other beautiful videos, that are filmed in 360 degrees, with the ambient music of nature, 4K resolution, and various lengths!

During virtual travel sessions, the patient switches from stressful situations and tension to positive emotions and an exciting experience. As we wrote earlier, virtual travel therapy has been confirmed by many scientists, including in times of covid and the pandemic!

PsyTech VR is available in the activities of psychologists and psychotherapists, medical centers, and for self-guided training at home and within the office in a work environment! Our service can be used by users on their own, without the help and support of a specialist, because the service is built on the principle of self-study.

LMS
Users get access to the Learning Management System, filled with courses and learning materials prepared by the PsyTech VR team of psychologists and reviewed by the Association for Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy.

Immersive VR/AR training
Further, after LMS system, the user can go to the VR program available on the Meta Quest, Meta Quest PRO and Pico NEO 3 (pro), and Pico 4 devices. Inside the application, you will find VR fear and stress training (50+ independent levels), including relaxation practices - Travel Therapy, Mindfulness Meditations, and Art Therapy. Inside the program, the user is accompanied by a virtual system that is asks for the mental state and feelings.

Dashboard
Next, you can set aside the VR device, and it is suggested to go to the Dashboard on your computer - this is another PsyTech VR system. Inside the system, you can track infographics and statistics on your sessions in the app, and contact a mental health specialist by making an appointment using virtual telemedicine.