How Virtual Therapeutics is making mental healthcare more accessible and effective with Meta Quest
Achieving clinically validated VR therapies results
By simulating traditional techniques such as meditation, attention training and other widely accepted methods in an engaging way, Virtual Therapeutics reports dramatic reductions in stress, anxiety and depression.
The positive effects of VR therapy also translate into people's daily lives. These results show how immersive technology can have lasting mental health benefits.
The challenge
The world faces a growing mental health crisis, with a global economic impact estimated at USDÂ 5 trillion. This challenge is magnified by a significant treatment gap. Multiple studies show that fewer than half of individuals with mental health issues receive care due to barriers such as cost, social stigma and available practitioners.
Unfortunately, this care deficit is set to worsen. With over 60% of active US psychiatrists being older than 55 and nearing retirement, the workforce is likely to shrink. This widening gap creates a worrying cycle in which challenges such as stress and anxiety could escalate into more severe conditions, without early intervention.
According to Dan Elenbaas, Founder of Virtual Therapeutics, this is a significant societal problem and a personal struggle for millions. As he says, "We're in this because we all have a family member or friend who struggles with mental health and can't quite find the right solution."
Dan and his colleagues needed a way to deliver effective, accessible and affordable care at scale, in order to bridge the care gap.
About the company
Industry
WHY MR
Why Meta
For Virtual Therapeutics, Meta Quest and managed solutions was the ideal foundation to bring its vision to life.
The company's goal was to build a VR therapy solution that was effective, accessible and engaging for everyone. This partnership and the features of Meta Quest provided key advantages:
- Accessibility and affordability – Meta Quest offers a high-quality experience at a price point that makes widespread deployment possible.
- Ease of use – The intuitive design of the headsets ensures that people of all ages and technical abilities can comfortably and easily start their therapy sessions.
- High-quality experience – The graphical capabilities of Meta Quest allow for the creation of realistic environments, crucial for immersion and engagement.
Dan Elenbaas,
Founder,
Virtual Therapeutics
The solution
Virtual Therapeutics developed Breakthough™ – a VR therapy solution on the Meta Quest platform focused on improving two critical aspects of mental healthcare: access and engagement. While deploying digital tools could improve access, the other goal was encouraging people to stick to their therapy practice.
The company's solution is built on this principle. Drawing on the team's video game design background, it aims to make proven methods such as meditation and cognitive behavioural modification (CBM) as compelling as possible – so that people keep wanting to practise. In the headset, people are transported to serene, tactile worlds or guided through relaxing breathing exercises, free from real-world distractions. This immersive quality facilitates experiential learning, which has been shown to create more lasting change than 2D methods. As Dan says, the aim is to "make therapy as compelling as gaming".
This approach removes key barriers: it can be delivered at a lower cost than traditional sessions and avoids the social stigma that can surround in-person therapy. Virtual Therapeutics is now exploring the technology as a preventative measure – what Dan calls "mental fitness" – keeping severe problems from worsening, while improving long-term mental health.
Dan Elenbaas,
Founder,
Virtual Therapeutics