Perinatal mental health gets VR training programme

England has become the first country in the world to launch clinical training in perinatal mental health using extended reality technology. Stacey, a ground-breaking patient avatar, has been developed by Health Education England (HEE) in partnership with Fracture Reality. Using a headset, learners interact with Stacey, a virtual patient who is directed by an instructor and run as a simulation on Fracture Reality’s JoinXR platform.

Treatment for perinatal mental health conditions relies on healthcare professionals being able to engage and communicate effectively with patients to determine the severity of their condition and make appropriate interventions. However, there are often limited opportunities for learners to practise these skills in a safe learning environment. The system provides learners with an immersive simulated experience that allows them to have realistic and natural conversations with Stacey, asking her about her symptoms and making plans to get her the right support – the type of real-life conversations health professionals may have with perinatal mental health patients.

The Centre for Immersive Technologies at the University of Leeds has evaluated the training experience with over 100 participants taking part (GP and mental health nurse trainees, trainee doctors and clinical psychologists). The project has been supported by HEE’s Technology Enhanced Learning team, which has managed the relationships between subject matter experts and suppliers, and will enable access for NHS organisations to the extended reality technology required to deliver the training.