Children explore virtual reality as part of trial for new NT youth mental health project

VR mental health sessions have started being trialled in parts of the NT’s Top End region, as part of a project from Big Sky Psychology, the NT’s Menzies School of Health Research, teamHEALTH and Aboriginal VR developer Brett Leavy/ Virtual Songlines.

By gamifying programs to address youth mental illness, cognitive disabilities, behavioural issues and emotional dysregulation, the team hopes the project will help tackle major obstacles to care in the territory such as issues with remoteness and staffing. 

Mr Leavy, a Kooma man, said the project particularly took a new approach to the mental health of young First Nations people by connecting them to their culture and country through VR.