Join us online next Wednesday, 9 July, from 12:00-13:00 (AEST) for our Masterclass Series: Let’s Talk Research.
This session features two compelling presentations on the intersection of technology, communication, and mental health. Hear from Dr Joshua Kelson and Sally Mordike as they share their latest research and practical insights.
Virtual reality technology and mental health – Presented by Dr Joshua Kelson
Virtual reality (VR) technology can significantly improve mental health outcomes. It involves using computerised devices (e.g., head mounted displays) to immerse people into virtual environments. These environments can simulate real-world scenarios that can be used for assessing and treating mental health conditions. For example, VR exposure therapy has shown remarkable success in effectively treating anxiety disorders by gradually exposing individuals to feared stimuli (e.g., spiders, needles, medical operations) in safe and controlled digital settings. However, there are health and safety risks, as well as technology limitations, that need to be addressed to optimally deliver VR in mental health services. Nevertheless, there are user-friendly VR software applications and procedures available that can be acquired, or developed, to improve mental health outcomes for clinicians and their clients (e.g., knowledge, skills, and symptoms) as well as overcome treatment barriers (e.g., long waitlists and therapist worker shortages in rural and remote areas). The integration of VR in mental health research and clinical practice continues to grow with many exciting opportunities for high impact research.
In this Masterclass, Dr Joshua Kelson will provide a foundational understanding of virtual reality technology and its transformative potential in mental health. The session will introduce the core components of virtual reality, showcase its diverse applications in mental health services, describe common risks and limitations with VR technology in mental health service delivery, and highlight avenues for innovation and further research.
Kindness, patience and presence: Interviewing older people living with dementia – Presented by Sally Mordike
How do we hear the experiences of older people with dementia in research, in health care, and in aged care settings? Often the opinions, feelings and experiences of people with dementia are not heard directly but instead are obtained from those who care for or live with them. Yet people living with dementia not only have meaningful things to say, they are able to communicate these for themselves. By consciously adapting our assumptions, expectations, and personal communication styles, we can facilitate effective and meaningful interviews, through creating calm interview spaces and taking the time to listen carefully and respectfully. This talk draws on doctoral studies which conducted in-depth interviews with older people living with early- to mid-stage dementia, and outlines interview techniques which are transferrable to any setting. Practical information is provided around recruitment, setting up and conducting one-to-one interviews with people with dementia, where questions are asked about meaning in life and important life experiences. Communicating with patience and presence is vital for professionals and researchers who work with and value the voices of people living with dementia.
In this session, Sally Mordike will deep dive into the practicalities of setting up and conducting interviews with people living with dementia. Good interview techniques – the ‘how-to’ of interviews, or what Nick Hopwood calls ‘the craft and artistry’ involved in data collection – are essential to maintain respect for participants and their stories and allow the researcher to gather relevant and rich research data. Conducting good in-depth interviews takes thought, planning, and personal skills, including good communication, ability to establish rapport, maintaining silence.
Explore the Masterclass Series and join directly from the webpage: https://staff.csu.edu.au/researchers/skill-development/programs/masterclass-series
Session recordings: The Masterclass Series is recorded for those who cannot join in person. Watch past Masterclass recordings here: https://staff.csu.edu.au/researchers/hdr-candidates/skills-career-development/resources-recordings/engage-impact