VR as a Facilitator for Participation in Society Among Persons With MHD/SUD

This study is the first part of a larger project called "Virtual Reality (VR) as a facilitator for participation in society among persons with mental health/substance use disorders" in which aims to explore,develop and evaluate a VR-based paradigm that facilitates social participation and promotes social recovery of individuals with mental health and/or substance use disorders (MHD/SUD). The overall project comprises three work packages: an exploration study, a development study, and an evaluation study. This study will make up work package 1. The primary aim of this study (WP1) is to explore facilitators and barriers for participation in society among person with MHD/SUD, and to provide an understanding of mechanisms of social participation and social cohesion among persons with MHD/ SUD that may be affected by VR-based interventions. The investigators will derive a socio-emotional learning domain to facilitate key interpersonal and social processes among persons with MHD/SUD in VR-based interventions. To achieve the purpose of this study, the invistigators conduct 10 indepth interviews with service-user with MHD/SUD, 2 focus group interviews with 14 service-providers and an interview-survey with 100 service users. This gives the investigators the possibility to explore facilitators and barriers for social participation as experienced as by individuals with MHD/SUD and identify key interpersonal and social processes suitable to be addressed by tailored VR based interventions.

Inclusion Criteria:above 18 years of agereceiving services in the municipality due to mental health and or addiction problems.Exclusion Criteria:-visual and hearing impairment, neurological disorders, and mental retardation [score ≤70 on the Test of Intelligence].