Project lead: Aislinn Bergin

The i-Emerge project (Immersive and Emerging Technologies for Mental Health) explored how immersive technologies like Virtual Reality (VR) and emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) could be used to promote better mental health for the communities of Nottingham. We held a workshop with Peer Support Workers and another with a local group called BAC-IN where attendees had the opportunity to try these technologies and play with robots. Mental health is a top priority within Nottingham but lots of people don’t get access to treatment because of a lack of availability or awareness, the stigma surrounding mental health, or wanting to look after oneself. These technologies have been used in new interventions and approaches to mental health and could make them more engaging but we also need to be careful not to exclude anyone. Bringing these technologies to people in Nottingham gave them the opportunity to ask questions, explore and play. Through sharing these experiences and stories, we found that people became more confident not just in using the technologies but also in understanding what they can and cannot do for their mental health.

During the workshops, attendees mapped out stories about what these technologies would look like in local services. These stories shared concerns and challenges, as well as highlighting how they could be used in positive ways. BAC-IN were able to see how something like VR could fit in their service and we are using what we have learned to develop further projects that can benefit people in Nottingham.