Mental health in the virtual world: Challenges and opportunities in the metaverse era

López del Hoyo, Yolanda (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Elices, Matilde ; Garcia-Campayo, Javier (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: Current rates of mental illness are worrisome. Mental illness mainly affects females and younger age groups. The use of the internet to deliver mental health care has been growing since 2020 and includes the implementation of novel mental health treatments using virtual reality, augmented reality, and artificial intelligence. A new three dimensional digital environment, known as the metaverse, has emerged as the next version of the Internet. Artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and virtual reality will create fully immersive, experiential, and interactive online environments in the metaverse. People will use a unique avatar to do anything they do in their “real” lives, including seeking and receiving mental health care. In this opinion review, we reflect on how the metaverse could reshape how we deliver mental health treatment, its opportunities, and its challenges.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v12.i17.2939

Año: 2024

Publicado en: World Journal of Clinical Cases 12, 17 (2024), 2939-2945
ISSN: 2307-8960

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/DGA/B17-23R
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/ISCIII-RICAPPS/RD21-0016-0005

Tipo y forma: Article (Published version)

Área (Departamento): Área Psicología Básica (Dpto. Psicología y Sociología)
Área (Departamento): Area Psiquiatría (Dpto. Medicina, Psiqu. y Derm.)