Fostering Mental Health Understanding in Nursing Students Through 360˚ VR
Authors: Snowden, J., Singleton, H. and Holley, D.
Conference: ANTF Symposium
Abstract:The increasing prevalence of mental illness among young people in somatic healthcare settings highlights the need for enhanced mental health training for nursing students. Many student nurses in physical health fields report feeling unprepared to support individuals with mental illness or in mental distress. To address this, 360˚ video simulations were co-created with mental health nursing students and professionals, depicting realistic clinical scenarios such as psychosis, anxiety management, and mental health assessments.
Using 360˚ cameras, high-fidelity simulations were filmed in clinical and community settings to create immersive, first-person and third-person perspectives of patient interactions. These videos are accessible via desktop, mobile devices, tablets, and VR headsets, allowing learners to engage with content in a way that mimics real-life clinical encounters. When viewed in VR, students experience a fully immersive environment where they can explore the scenario from different vantage points, enhancing situational awareness and emotional engagement.
The simulations are integrated into a flipped learning approach, where students pre-engage with the videos asynchronously before participating in facilitated discussions, structured debriefing, and reflective exercises. The interactive nature of 360˚ video fosters active learning, enabling students to practice decision-making, de-escalation techniques, and therapeutic communication strategies in a safe, controlled environment.
360˚ Cameras & VR Integration: Professional-grade 360˚ cameras were used to capture realistic scenarios, ensuring spatial immersion and authentic patient interactions. These are hosted on an interactive platform, enabling students to navigate perspectives and engage with branching decision points.
VR vs. Traditional Video Learning: Preliminary data suggests that students engaging with fully immersive VR experiences demonstrate higher emotional connection, increased confidence in mental health conversations, and greater retention of de-escalation techniques compared to traditional video-based learning.
Scalability and Accessibility: The 360˚ simulations are cloud-hosted for easy access across devices, supporting self-directed learning and wider institutional adoption. This approach can be replicated across healthcare disciplines, including paramedicine, social work, and general medical training, to enhance interpersonal, diagnostic, and de-escalation skills.
Source: Manual