Strengthening Mental Health through Virtual Simulations: A Path to Wellness
In contemporary times, educational institutions must prioritize the preservation of Mental Health among their students and educators. Apart from all social and personality topics, learners also struggle with academic demands, uncertainty of the future, and fear of failure.
A culture of well-being and a better equipping faculty to support students in need are two of the main strategies. Nevertheless, the way students learn can positively and negatively contribute to this subject.
For this reason, Virtual Patient Simulation can play a crucial role in promoting the mental and behavioral health of future healthcare professionals and their educators.
Healthcare Simulation and Students’ Well-being – Strengthening Mental Health
With Body Interact, the traditional classroom is replaced by an interactive and immersive virtual environment where aspiring healthcare professionals can engage with complex and diverse clinical scenarios in a risk-free environment.
Let’s explore the benefits verified from the international research and the daily introduction of Body Interact in Healthcare Training and Education:
Increase confidence: By allowing students to practice in a safe and controlled environment repeatedly, virtual patient simulations enhance students’ confidence.
From clinical knowledge and decision-making abilities to empathy, emotional intelligence, and communication skills, consistent practice can positively impact mental well-being and reduce stress. [2]
Accessibility and Flexibility: Since it can be accessed anytime and on a range of devices such as computers, tablets, and smartphones, simulation allows students to engage with learning materials at their own pace and convenience. Thus, it reduces stress related to time constraints and scheduling conflicts.
Self-reflection and guided analysis: By providing immediate feedback and opportunities for reflection, the simulator reduces feelings of frustration and helplessness often experienced by students during traditional learning methods.
Identifying the areas for improvement is the first step in enhancing ourselves. Additionally, recognizing the topics in which we excel can be extremely beneficial for our happiness and motivation.
Elevating teachers with immersive learning experiences
By offering immersive, interactive, and engaging learning experiences, teachers will be able to accelerate learning, improve knowledge retention, and enhance understanding of clinical concepts. However, to deliver such learning experiences, they must dedicate their time to preparing all materials and flows before the class.
Body Interact provides fully prepared scenarios and an integrated Learning Management System. In addition to providing all the details of the scenarios, it also assists educators in identifying students’ learning gaps based on their previous performance results.
The stigma surrounding mental health issues continues to diminish, leading more people to seek help instead of suffering in silence. Consequently, school leaders are beginning to think outside the box regarding support methods. Interactive learning experiences with Body Interact, for example, foster understanding and empathy, contributing to healthier minds in schools.
Promoting awareness among students and educators is a key element that includes emphasizing the concept of self-care and taking responsibility for one’s mental health and wellness.
Contact our team to learn more about the evidence collected on Body Interact usage.
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References
[1] Oliveira Silva G, Oliveira FSE, Coelho ASG, Cavalcante AMRZ, Vieira FVM, Fonseca LMM, Campbell SH, Aredes NDA. Effect of simulation on stress, anxiety, and self-confidence in nursing students: Systematic review with meta-analysis and meta-regression. Int J Nurs Stud. 2022 Sep;133:104282. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2022.104282.
[2] Thompson AJ, Boswell AC, Evans T, Clarke B. Clinical emergencies in inpatient hospice: simulation-based training to improve nursing confidence. BMJ Support Palliat Care. 2023 Nov 30:spcare-2023-004587. doi: 10.1136/spcare-2023-004587.
