Navigating the digital frontier: opportunities and challenges of virtual reality in mental health

This dissertation investigates the potential of virtual reality (VR) to transform mental health care by fostering empathy, promoting well-being, and alleviating psychological distress. It highlights VR’s role as a positive technology, capable of enhancing eudaimonic well-being by fostering purpose, engagement, and personal growth, while complementing its established benefits in reducing negative mental health symptoms. The first study, a systematic review, explores how VR and other digital technologies can enhance empathy among healthcare professionals, a key factor in patient satisfaction and treatment adherence. It demonstrates VR's capacity to immerse clinicians and health workers in patients’ perspectives, promoting empathy and emotional insight. The second study reviews the use of VR interventions to promote positive mental health, finding strong evidence of VR’s efficacy in reducing stress and fostering well-being but identifying gaps in its impact on eudaimonic well-being. Insights from this review informed the development of a VR program evaluated in a pilot study. The third study examines the feasibility and effectiveness of the H.O.M.E._Positivity VR program in reducing psychological distress and enhancing well-being among young adults. The results demonstrate significant improvements in mental health, suggesting that VR can foster positive emotions and psychological resilience. A larger follow-up study is underway to validate these findings. The general discussion synthesizes the findings, addressing theoretical and practical implications, including challenges such as inconsistent definitions of empathy and barriers to VR adoption. Recommendations include advancing VR’s integration into clinical practice, scaling interventions, and conducting more robust research to fully realize its potential in mental health care. This work underscores VR’s transformative role in promoting well-being and shaping the future of mental health interventions.