A first-of-its-kind live peer support mental health app, Innerworld is being released on Meta’s Quest app store.
Mental health struggles are something many people experience throughout life and while exposure for the topic has achieved broader reach through the pandemic, too many people still suffer in silence. Many feel as though they don’t have the avenue in which talk about it or don’t have helpful services available to them.
Figures suggest that during the pandemic there was at least a 25% increase in the prevalence of anxiety and depression, worldwide.
Innerworld has been developed by researchers at Vanderbilt University to translate cognitive behavioural therapy into affordable, scalable intervention that is available 24/7 via Meta’s Quest. Innerworld also claim that the service comes at a fraction of the cost of traditional therapy, being priced at $17 per month.
Creating a new channel for mental health support
Innerworld will allow its users to be anonymous through the use of avatars. The hope is that this may help those who feel too anxious to attend a therapy session in person. The platform states then provides empathetic staff to guide live mental health groups and teach evidence-based skills to help people.
Founder and CEO of Innerworld, Noah Robinson shared that he once struggled with depression and found the popular MMO title Runescape a place where he could feel more comfortable being themselves which eventually led to having the confidence to do the same in the real world.
Users of the platform have commented that the tools and resources offer help to better mental health and groups leave them feeling supported and better equipped to face the day ahead.
Online spaces that offer mental health support in a safe environment could help those who struggle with mental health, take further control of those battles and find help that they may not feel they can get in the real world. All ages are impacted by the seriousness of mental health and given the rising popularity of metaverse titles, a space like Innerworld offers another avenue for seeking help.
Innerworld is accessible via various devices such as VR headsets, desktops, and tablets. The full launch is set for November 10th.
Paige Cook is a writer with a multi-media background. She has experience covering video games and technology and also has freelance experience in video editing, graphic design, and photography. Paige is a massive fan of the movie industry and loves a good TV show, if she is not watching something interesting then she's probably playing video games or buried in a good book. Her latest addiction is virtual photography and currently spends far too much time taking pretty pictures in games rather than actually finishing them.
