The recent XR Ecosystem Event, a collaboration between Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH) and the University of Manchester (UoM), showcased the future of digital interventions in mental health care. Held under the support of the Manchester Academic Health Science Centre (MAHSC), this event brought together technology developers, academics, and health professionals to discuss and demonstrate cutting-edge XR (extended reality) technologies.

A Vision for the Future: John Sainsbury’s Insights

John Sainsbury, a key figure in organising the event, highlighted his long-term involvement in the pilot of the gameChange VR therapy in Greater Manchester. Over the past two years, John has witnessed the transformative impact of VR therapy on patients and the valuable insights gained by clinicians. This experience underscored the importance of disseminating the outcomes of such pilots, including the journey towards adoption, governance, engagement, and oversight, along with service user recovery stories.

Another motivator for John was the emergence of new digital therapeutic interventions on the horizon of frontline treatment, with several recently receiving positive Early Value Assessments from NICE. Recognising the need to raise awareness about these interventions, he envisioned the XR Ecosystem event as a platform where technology developers, academics, and health professionals could come together to inspire, share ideas, and potentially collaborate on future research projects.

John reported that participants found the day to be informative, engaging, and interactive. A particularly memorable moment was the buzz during the demonstrations of Avatar, XR Therapeutics, and GameChange, which highlighted the practical applications of these technologies.

One of the standout moments was the attendance of a representative from the SBRI funding body, who acknowledged Greater Manchester’s leadership in hosting such events in the UK. The representative also shared insights about the Mindset extended reality (XR) for digital mental health programme – UKRI, which opens possibilities for future funding in this area.

Additionally, the demonstration of the Decision Bridge by Dr. Paul Warren and his team was both thrilling and insightful. This VR tool places participants in a Squid Game-like scenario to challenge ingrained thinking patterns, providing a safe virtual environment to modify emotional responses and decision-making processes.

Following the event, several health tech companies and academics have already reached out to GMMH’s Research and Innovation team, initiating potential collaborations for future studies and developments. John anticipates that this XR event will become a biannual fixture in Greater Manchester, continuing to showcase new developments and celebrate the innovative journeys of patients, developers, researchers, and clinicians in mental health therapy. He also emphasised the pivotal role of the partnership between UoM’s Digital Futures and GMMH’s Research and Innovation team in the event’s success.

A Participant’s Perspective: Jerome Carson’s Reflections

Jerome Carson, an attendee from the MAHSC Mental Health Domain, emphasised the increasing importance of digital technologies in mental health, particularly for younger populations who are digital natives. He pointed out several advantages of digital interventions: they help mitigate long waiting lists for mental health services, reduce the stigma associated with traditional mental health treatments, and offer a plethora of resources, from podcasts to web-based tools.

Jerome was impressed by the diversity of experts from across the country who attended the event. He appreciated the combination of academic presentations and practical demonstrations, which provided attendees with the opportunity to engage with researchers and explore the technologies firsthand. The inclusion of voices from individuals with lived experience of using these new approaches added invaluable depth to the discussions.

Jerome noted that the event being free to attend was a significant positive. He also praised the excellent venue, catering, and administration, which contributed to the overall success of the day.

Jerome highlighted the substantial investment made by the School of Psychology at the University of Bolton in state-of-the-art digital technologies. He suggested that John Sainsbury should visit Bolton to meet Keith Kenyon, their tech guru, to explore potential collaborations. Jerome emphasised the importance of universities with the necessary equipment and research expertise working closely with mental health services to enhance patient care through these innovations.

The XR Ecosystem Event was a resounding success, marking a significant step forward in the integration of digital technologies into mental health care. By fostering collaboration between technology developers, academics, and health professionals, the event has set the stage for future innovations and research that promise to transform mental health treatments. As digital interventions continue to evolve, events like this will be crucial in bridging the gap between technology and mental health care, ensuring that patients receive the most effective and innovative treatments available.