Domestic violence is one of the most persistent social problems in modern society. It creates mental health issues both for the abuser and the victim. The children also often get caught in the crossfire. The global pandemic is forcing dysfunctional couples to stay inside together. This has resulted in an alarmingly sharp rise in domestic violence.
Enliven Media in collaboration with the Dutch Ministry of Justice is trying to solve the domestic violence problem. They have developed an innovative virtual reality project called ‘Don’t Forget Me’. The program shows the offenders how their actions impact their victims. So what does the experience entail?
The Simulation
Inside the virtual reality you take on the role of a 7-year-old child, standing beside the crib of his baby sister. Your parents are fighting downstairs and you hear the sound of glass breaking. Your parents then move upstairs and the violence spills into your room. You stand there helplessly watching your sister cry as your father pushes your mother down on the floor. Three minutes into this horrifying experience, the program ends. You return to the real world shaken and shocked.
The Intent
The developers aim to bridge the emotional gap between the abuser and their victims. Alex Tavassoli is the founder and director of Enliven Media. In his opinion most parents are unaware of how their fights impact their children. They are not aware just how much of the domestic violence their children witness. This immersive VR experience forces the participant to reconsider their abusive actions.
The project started in 2015 with a small budget but rapidly gained traction as the initial results were positive. The prototype that the Dutch probation service is using is not yet interactive. But Alex assures that the next version will have several upgrades including interactivity.
There will also be more characters and better scenery. It was a conscious decision by the Ministry to opt for virtual reality instead of a 360-degree video. Because as a participant you cannot change the outcome in a video.
Testing
The Dutch probation service is testing the program on probation workers as well as the perpetrators of domestic violence. The social workers often tell their clients ‘we know how you feel’. But this experience puts them in their client’s shoes. It helps them understand the situation better.
The testing on offenders has shown very positive results. The program has broken through their apathy and indifference time and again. Many of the offenders who had so far shown no remorse, came out of the experience shaken and with tears in their eyes.
The pilot went on to win the Ministry Of Justice Innovation Award of 2018 because of the positive impact it had created.
VR in Mental Health
Virtual reality in mental health has been making tremendous progress. Neuroscientists are beginning to explore how virtual reality affects your brain. This is enabling new ways of treating mental illness.
Several organizations have started using virtual reality to help treat mental health conditions. Mental health workers are now using cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy in tandem with virtual reality. They are curing patients of addiction, phobias, and obsessions by helping them rewire their brains.
Developers are also turning some of these therapies into VR mental health apps. These would soon be readily accessible for private practitioners across the world. Apps like Limbix and Oxford VR have already gone global, helping millions overcome their mental health issues.
In the coming years we can expect a giant leap in virtual reality technology. The consequent application in mental health will also improve with the experiences becoming more immersive and impactful.
