The proposed research aims to design and develop a Virtual Reality Instructional (VRI) training environment using Unity, with interactive avatars powered by generative AI. This environment will focus on mental health support by enabling non-player characters (NPCs) to simulate supportive conversations, deliver therapeutic interventions, and guide users through mindfulness and cognitive behavioral exercises. This innovation can enhance the realism, personalization, and accessibility of mental health training and interventions. The objectives include:
Expected Outcomes:
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Character Design and Personality Configuration
The virtual agent has been modeled after a licensed clinical psychologist with a background
in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Attributes such as empathy, calmness, patience,
and professionalism have been encoded to facilitate trust and open communication.
All responses have been constructed using emotionally intelligent, reflective language.
A slow and steady speech rhythm has been applied, and affirming phrases have been
incorporated to convey understanding (e.g., “That’s understandable,” “You’re not alone
in this”). Jane has been equipped with the Academic Anxiety Scale (Cassady, 2020),
consisting of 11 items rated on a four-point scale. These items have been reformulated
into conversational prompts and delivered sequentially. Scores are computed through
simple summation, and anxiety levels are categorized as follows:
11–14: Not Anxious
15–20: Mild Academic Anxiety
21–29: Moderate Academic Anxiety
30–44: High Academic Anxiety
Publications
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