Virtual reality relaxation for child and adolescent mental health services: A feasibility and acceptability study.

Mental health difficulties are common in children and young people, but many experience barriers to engaging with mental health services. Child and adolescent mental health services are under-resourced, leaving patients, families, and staff experiencing higher demand than capacity. Novel innovations are needed to support patient and staff wellbeing. To test feasibility and acceptability of a 1-hour, single session of VR relaxation for patients and staff within a South London Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service. Pre-VR, visual analogue scales (VAS) of self-reported relaxation, anxiety, happiness on a scale of 0 (‘Not at all’) to 10 (‘Very’), were administered. Post-VR VAS of satisfaction and immersion were administered with the same scale. Post-VR narrative feedback and clinical reflections were recorded. Patients (n=15) were all children aged between 7 and 12 years. They were mostly female and approximately half were from White British backgrounds. Staff (n=15) were mostly female, aged between 18 and 35 years, worked as Child Wellbeing Practitioners, and were from a range of ethnicities. Post-VR all participants reported increased happiness and relaxation, and decreased anxiety (all strong effects). Satisfaction and immersion ratings were high (all >6.5). Narrative feedback highlighted positive and pleasurable experiences, indicated enthusiasm and scope for increased access, and wider implementation of VR relaxation. VR relaxation is an exciting and innovative intervention for wellbeing, but there is limited research within these settings. Areas for future research include exploring potential benefits and adaptations for neurodivergent young people and coproduced implementation within minoritised communities.