10101891New VR application to support people that self-harmClosedCollaborative R&DInnovate UKThe purpose of this project is to create a new VR application to support people that self-harm, it will focus on providing preventative care and psychoeducation skills and techniques to ensure people can develop healthier ways to deal with their negative emotions. Self-harm involves a person damaging their body by cutting, burning, scratching, or practicing any other behaviour that results in pain or injury. There are various reasons why people self-harm, such as feeling helpless, overwhelmed, or distressed. Although self-harm itself is not classified as a mental health disorder, it is a common symptom that is seen alongside a variety of psychological conditions such as eating disorders, personality disorders, depression, PTSD and anxiety. It can lead to feelings of guilt and frustration and in some instances can increase the risk of suicidal ideation and behaviours. As someone (Lead Applicant, Penny Day) that has experienced self-harm, I want to create something that can help prevent someone from engaging in self-harm through de-escalation, distraction and education. We want to create something that will help someone who is in a negative emotional state and provide tools to support with future episodes. This application has been created through consultation with people who have lived experience of self-harm and will incorporate their perspective throughout design and development. This project aligns with the NHS Long Term plan, emphasising preventive measures to alleviate the strain on mental health services. This project presents an opportunity not just to innovate but to address a critical gap in mental health support, potentially curbing excessive NHS spending by fostering effective preventive care and reducing the burden on emergency services due to unaddressed mental health conditions. This is an 18-month project led by XR Therapeutics. XRT is a start-up company, spun out of Newcastle University and is based on over 9 years of clinical and academic research, we combine traditional CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) with graded exposure to treat situation specific anxiety. Our solution is delivered using XR (extended reality) technology combined with techniques from conventional talking therapies.