Mental Healthcare Application using AR and VR Technology

Project Title

Mental Healthcare Application using AR and VR Technology

Project Area of Specialization Augmented and Virtual RealityProject Summary

Our project is based on “Mental Healthcare Application using AR/VR” (MHARVR).  With the increasing prevalence of stress and the numerous mental health conditions it invites psychologists to specialized mobile applications to promote mental wellness. The applied approach for the use of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) on clinical and health psychology has grown exponentially. These technologies have been used to treat several mental disorders, for example, anxiety, mood disorder and trauma.

For Patients our system will provide:

• Initial information about the Mental Disorder via AR.
• Inform about the symptoms
• Rating of the illness in the form of questionnaire that will tell the patient’s score and tells how much help you need.
• In Support groups people with mental disorders often connect people sharing the same diagnosis, building communities. This helps users share feelings with those who will understand and support them.
• Matching clients with Psychologist, Psychiatrist and Coach
• Effective worksheets for the patients (will be given only on Therapist’s recommendation to the patient)
• When the patient need any kind of severe help they can send their location to one of their three trusted contacts.
• Built-in Emergency helpline numbers
• General activity suggestions
• Relaxation techniques via VR

  For Coach our system will provide:

• Dashboard for the coach.
• The coach will only facilitate the patient by listening the patient’s story, if the coach feels that the patient need sever help then the coach suggest that patient needs to seek help from the therapist or Psychiatrist and if the patient’s symptoms are mild then coach will recommend some general activities. 

  For Psychologist our system will provide:

• Dashboard for the Psychologist
• Psychologist will provide the talk therapy
• Suggests Worksheets

• For Psychiatrist our system will provide:

• Dashboard for the Psychiatrist
• Psychiatrist will assess the patient
• Schedule and Conduct diagnostic interviews
• Psychiatrist will view Lab test and reports (if needed)
• Offers guidance based on cognitive behavioral therapy
• Psychiatrist will treat his/her patients through REBT used as cognitive-behavioral therapy, exposure therapy etc.

Project Objectives

Mental Healthcare Application using AR/VR will consists of 3 modules mentioned below:

• WEBSITE
• MOBILE APPLICATION
• DESKTOP APPLICATION

  Goal:

  The goal of this project is to treat patients with the following mental health disorders: 

• Anxiety
• Mood Disorder
• Trauma

• Objectives:

  The mental healthcare Application using AR/VR meet the following objectives:

• System will support the Coach, therapist and Psychiatrist
• Cure steps
• Treatment
• Procedure
• Therapy

Project Implementation Method

We are using Scrum Methodology as it works flawless for the projects. It allows 15-minute daily meetings ensure that the process is at the correct stage, as established at the beginning of the project. With the division and assignment of roles and tasks efficiently, this methodology helps us work successfully on a project. The participation and management of SCRUM are simple and easy to handle for all stages. Similarly, it has a record of work done and is monitored to achieve it efficiently.

Additional benefits of SCRUM are:

• Fast response to changes.
• Helps save time.
• Functional tests are frequent in the process.
• Motivation and responsibility of teams.

Benefits of the Project

Strengths:

• • User-friendly
  • Online therapy sessions (because of the pandemic)
  • Worksheets provided to the patients on the recommendation of Therapist and Psychiatrist.
  • Initial information of the particular illness via AR.
  • Relaxation videos via VR.

Current or future opportunities: If our project been successful in Karachi by the grace of Allah then we will definitely launch the project across all over Pakistan. In future we will also collaborating with well renowned hospitals and Doctors to be a part of our project.

Note: This tool is not for self-medication and we are not replacing the therapist with our product. We are only providing small scale therapies for mild depression like enjoying eye-catching videos, listening to soothing music etc. For severe mental illness Psychiatrist’s consultation is required.

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

MHARVR will consists of 3 modules mentioned below:

WEBSITE: (For information purpose only)

Website will provide the information of

• What is mental health??
• What are the disorders of mental health and their details?
• How to overcome mental disorders? 
• What MHARVR is offering in order to overcome the mental health disorder?

And link to our Mobile and Desktop Application.

MOBILE APPLICATION:

Mobile Application will consists of AR/VR functionality.

AR functionality:

The Mobile App module will provide the following information to the patient in text related format:

• The information about the disorder.
• What can be the symptoms?
• Treatment names related to the disorder.

Augmented Reality Module

Diagnostic Criteria for Mental Health Disorder

Mood Disorders

• Major Depressive Disorder
• Bipolar Disorder

Anxiety Disorders

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder
• Panic Disorder
• Social Anxiety Disorder
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Trauma Disorders

• Acute Stress Disorder
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

VR functionality:

There are two different focuses of VR in healthcare:

1. VR as a simulation tool and
2. VR as an interaction tool

Simulation tool will include:

• Activities for Behavioral Activation (5-7 modules)
• Go for a walk
• Bird watching
• Shop for the groceries
• Drive
• Walk in the woods
• Visit a new place, zoo or museum
• Simple Relaxation Techniques
• Progressive Muscle Relaxation
• Vivo exposure
• Mindfulness activity

Interaction tool will include:

• Pet Interaction
• Social Skill Training (5-7 modules)
• Introducing yourself
• Making friends
• Complements
• Asking for help
• Assertive Communication

DESKTOP APPLICATION:

• Desktop Application will consists of Form filling, Worksheets, Assessment measures and profile of Patient, Coach, Psychologist and Psychiatrist.

Final Deliverable of the Project HW/SW integrated systemCore Industry HealthOther Industries IT , Medical Core Technology Augmented & Virtual RealityOther Technologies Wearables and ImplantablesSustainable Development Goals Good Health and Well-Being for PeopleRequired Resources

Item Name	Type	No. of Units	Per Unit Cost (in Rs)	Total (in Rs)
			Total in (Rs)	80000
VR Headset (Oculus Go Standalone Virtual Reality Headset 64GB)	Equipment	1	70000	70000
Website domain and hosting cost	Miscellaneous	1	3000	3000
Mobile App Hosting and domain cost	Miscellaneous	1	3000	3000
Poster Cost, Flyers, Banner Cost	Miscellaneous	1	4000	4000