GM Connected Health Ecosystem: XR in Mental Health 15 February 2024

Professor Chris Taylor, Director of Digital Futures and Associate Vice President for Digital and Innovation at The University of Manchester, kicked off proceedings with a short welcome and introduction to all attendees. Professor Tony Warne, Chair of GMMH NHS Foundation Trust Board, followed with an overview of the strategic direction of GMMH.

Chairing the presentations, Dr Damien Longson, Consultant Liaison Psychiatrist and Director of Research & Innovation at GMMH, encouraged attendees to build networks and catalyse conversations with speakers throughout the day.

Professor Panos Constantinides, Professor of Digital Innovation and Digital Learning Lead for Executive Education at Alliance Manchester Business School, proceeded with a talk titled 'The Role of Healthcare Ecosystems in Accelerating Digital Transformation'. Discussing why healthcare organizations should explore joint value propositions through an ecosystem approach to digital transformation, Professor Constantinides showcased how this solution could potentially mitigate risks while reducing the complexity of coordination and cooperation problems.

Next, Professor Jeremy Parr, Professor of Paediatric Neurodisability at Newcastle University, and Billy Webber, Chief Executive Officer of XR Therapeutics, gave a presentation, 'Treating Anxiety and Phobias for People with ASC & LD'. Explaining his research on Immersive VR as a treatment for anxiety, Professor Parr delved into the creation of XR Therapeutics and explained the importance of balancing clinical academia and industry roles.

Continuing the presentation, Billy introduced the approach of XR Therapeutics which has been developed as a treatment for multiple mental health conditions. Showing the technological roadmap, Billy explained how XR Therapeutics is working towards mobilising AI tools for future scene development.

Billy's talk signalled the end of the first round of presentations which meant the first roundtable discussion on XR research generation followed. Attendees gathered in interdisciplinary groups and catalysed ideas from the following questions:

• What solutions might XR bring to MH and well-being in general?
• What are the opportunities for researching XR in MH?

After lively discussions on the solutions and research opportunities of XR in mental health, attendees from academia and industry came together to bridge networks and share ideas during the coffee break.

Concluding the break, attendees delved into a presentation, 'AVATAR Therapy for distressing voices: Implementation and Innovation' by Dr Thomas Ward, Clinical Research Lead for the AVATAR Therapy team. Outlining how AVATAR Therapy is a digital therapeutic that consists of personalised avatars that embody voices, Dr Ward demonstrated how this treatment gives patients an increase of power, control, and confidence.

A presentation titled 'GameChange VR: Exposure Therapy for People with Psychosis and Agoraphobia' followed, with Dr Sinead Lambe, Research Clinical Psychologist at The University of Oxford, introducing GameChange VR and how it helps patients to feel safer and in control of everyday situations. John Sainsbury, Innovation Manager of GMMH NHS Foundation Trust, showcased the processes and challenges that arise from implementing GameChange VR therapy in community mental health.

Sharing a user researcher's perspective on GameChange VR, Heather Peel, Service User Researcher at GMMH, reflected on her experiences raising awareness of the technology prior to its roll-out, as well as her work on the training of staff and the co-delivery of the therapy during its implementation pilot study. Kate Kelly, Research Peer Support Worker at GMMH, shared a formulation that she developed with a service user during GameChange VR sessions.

Rounding off the talks, a user of GameChange VR came onto the stage and gave attendees an insight into his experience with the treatment. Attendees were deeply engaged and asked questions to learn how innovative technologies have the ability to deliver impact as powerful psychological treatments. Kichau Ramlaul, Peer Support Worker, and Peer Mentor at GMMH, shared the importance of Peer Mentors during the process of GameChange VR sessions.

A lunch break concluded the insightful round of presentations, wherein attendees had the opportunity to build interdisciplinary networks and share thoughts from the presentations.

After the break, attendees were given the opportunity to experience innovative technologies first-hand, including GameChange VR, AVATAR, XR Therapeutics, The Decision Bridge, and the Data Visualisation Observatory from Alliance Manchester Business School during the XR demonstrations session. Attendees enjoyed delving into immersive technologies currently in use in the NHS or close to real-world implementation.

A presentation, 'The Possibilities and Challenges of XR in Mental Health' followed, and Jane Guest, Knowledge Exchange Manager of Innovate UK, gave an overview of the Mindset XR Programme and its aim to invest in XR to be delivered as digital mental health therapeutics. Concluding the presentation, Dr Aislinn Gómez Bergin, Research Fellow at MindTech, discussed the growing value of XR in healthcare in the UK.