Psychological Health Care through Virtual World Technology

By MC1 Molly A. Burgess

June 7, 2010 - The National Center for Telehealth and Technology (T2) will launch a new Virtual Worlds project for servicemembers post combat deployment or with other psychological health care issues related to deployment. The project utilizes a 3-D computer generated environment to help improve psychological services and care.

The web based project allows servicemembers to access tutorials, information, training, and socialize with other service members or counselors with a click of their mouse, no matter where in the country they currently reside, explained Dr. Kevin M. Holloway, a T2 clinical psychologist and the project lead for the Virtual Worlds project, during a DotMilDocs interview on Pentagon Web Radio, June 3.

With the project being available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, accessible online, and the option to be anonymous while using an avatar, it relieves the pressure of an inconvenient travel to a facility or the uncomfortable feeling of speaking face-to-face with a provider. The project also allows service members to interact socially with others who might be experiencing the same issues by chatting or Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) which helps to give them a sense of normalization.

In the future, T2 hopes to launch other beneficial attributes to help learn more about psychological issues such as a virtual simulator where service members learn by doing. To learn more about virtual world technology for psychological health, join a free one-hour webinar hosted by T2 at 1300 EDT on 10 JUN. Register for the webinar by sending an email to: t2.health@us.army.mil or visit www.t2health.org/events.