Emotional awareness and regulation training will be offered to mental health staff using virtual reality (VR) technology following a successful trial led by Sian James, Assistant Director of Mental Health Education.
The training offers an immersive learning experience and enables staff to explore their emotional awareness, which positively influences interactions with mental health consumers requiring emotional support and de-escalation intervention.
This innovative training provision emanates from a collaborative partnership spanning more than two years between Mental Health and Specialist Services (MHSS) and the University of Newcastle¡¯s Centre for Advanced Learning Systems and explores the potential benefits of VR technology in mental health education. The project involved a feasibility study delivered over six one-day workshops in 2023 and attended by 62 mental health staff.
Sian and her team of mental health educators and facilitators are excited and ready to roll out this innovative training, which will be delivered through the purchase of 20 virtual reality headsets, controllers and bio-feedback respiratory belts.
¡°One of the challenges facing education is ensuring the transfer of theory, knowledge and skills into practice,¡± Sian said.
¡°Our VR feasibility study revealed that staff reported, in very high numbers, using emotional awareness and evidence-based regulation strategies delivered in training before, during and after engaging with distressed mental health consumers requiring support through de-escalation intervention, which is really encouraging.¡±
The training incorporates activities set in everyday situations, which can be navigated through using evidence-based strategies delivered in the workshops. The training is based on sound psychological principles including Acceptance and Commitment, and Relational Frame Theory.
¡°By enhancing our staff emotional awareness, we can further support consumers through timely and positive engagement,¡± Sian said.
¡°Staff who utilise evidence-based strategies to regulate stress responses can better support consumers to regulate their own emotions, thereby reducing stress and distress.¡±
Further study of the program will determine the impact of training and care delivery outcomes, benefits for mental health consumers and mental health services as a whole.