For Teens, Can “Virtual” Education Benefit Psychological Literacy?
October 6th, 2010
The experience of sitting down, face to face, with someone trained and experienced in providing therapy and psychological support is something that computers are unlikely to ever replace. But when it comes to simply being informed about mental health issues, it could be that teens benefit from a virtual environment. Building on the success of a computer program designed to provide information on physical health, some computer developers are teaming up with the American Nurses Foundation and a scholar from Case Western Reserve University to develop a virtual world focused on mental health information. The project is still in its early stages, but its leaders hope that the interactive format proves more helpful to teens than simple straightforward articles and pamphlets currently are.
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I took up a similar program online once. It was developed by a Dutch professional and it was great. It helped me discover my problem area, which was my business and really gave me help in finding a way to improve myself.
Although I wouldn’t call it a replacement for a real professional it sure beats the next best thing :)
the internet and mobile phone is all that youngsters seem to care about and consult for anything,be it for dictionary,finding their way around,shooting a picture or just anything at all.hence it makes perfect sense to offer them these kind of interactive and tech enabled services.
This is such a great move because all of us know that teens are going to far better relate to information that they discover and receive online than they will to pamphlets or even assemblies at school. That is just not the mindset of how kids learn anymore. We have to be able to take the information that they all need to be made aware of and find a way to present it to them so that it is in a mode with which they enjoy learning. We have to find new and better ways to reach them and one of the best ways to do this is by utilizing the technology that they are already so familiar with and comfprtable with using. That is going to be the best way to get the messages out there to them.
We live in an online-orientated world. No teen wants to pick up a pamphlet in school or college in case a classmate sees them do it or spots it in their backpack. Nor do they always want the material at home. Moms have a radar for that kind of thing and roommates can’t be trusted not to look through your stuff. Looking for information online is a much better answer and a virtual world setting appeals to the gamer in them.
Correct me if I’m wrong here. Isn’t that encouraging them to hide behind a persona? That doesn’t feel like the most transparent way to begin such a delicate and important therapist-client relationship.
The anonymity of a virtual world setting would hold tremendous appeal. Second Life is enormously popular and to be able to speak freely, albeit through an avatar version of yourself, has to be much easier than a face-to-face conversation would be. Ingenious!
How would the therapist know it truly was that same person behind the avatar that they thought it was? Anyone could sit at a keyboard. In fact, how would the patient know it’s the same therapist? There would need to be safeguards in place in that respect or you would have no hope of developing trust.
It would be cheaper than traveling to an office to see a therapist all the time too. I’d do it for that reason. Think of the savings on traveling time and costs alone! Those can mount up and we’re not all rich. I have to watch every penny.
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