Art VR has been championed as a potential “lifeline” for emotional care and stress relief after taking centre stage at a recent event in Runcorn.
The technology featured at Art in Mind, a two-day event in Runcorn organised by Amore Complex Care in partnership with Art VR to mark Mental Health Awareness Month.
The immersive system offers users calming activities such as painting, building sandcastles, and kite flying in a fully virtual environment.
Sarah Wilkinson, founder of Art VR, said: “Collaborating with Amore Complex Care for the Art in Mind event has been truly meaningful.
“Together, we’re using creativity to open conversations around mental health in our community.
“Seeing a non-verbal client completely relaxed and immersed in Art VR, with Support Workers saying they’d never witnessed anything like it before, genuinely moved me to tears.
“These are the moments that remind me why we do this, because impact like this is priceless, and no amount of money can replicate it.”
The event brought together clients, health and social care professionals, community members, and special guests including Mayor of Halton Martha Lloyd Jones and councillor Peter Lloyd Jones.
Art VR has previously been piloted at Manchester Foundation Trust, where it was used with more than 50 critical staff.
Results from the pilot included that 97 per cent of medical personnel said they would recommend Art VR as a therapeutic aid for patients, short sessions led to immediate reductions in heart rate and blood pressure, with most participants reporting they felt calmer afterwards.
Staff described the technology as a “lifeline” and an essential emotional reset during demanding shifts.
Mayor Martha Lloyd Jones and Councillor Peter Lloyd Jones with Amore Complex Care’s clients artwork (Image: Amore Complex Care)
On the second day of the event, guests also took part in a wellbeing session led by Kevin Morland Hypnotherapy and NLP, exploring the fight-or-flight response and ending with a guided hypnotherapy exercise.
Mayor Lloyd Jones said: “I found it very interesting.
“I’m sure children and adults would really enjoy it.”
Attendees also joined an art session led by Laura Bevan and Georgina Ridehalgh of Fortuna Female Society, where clients painted trees with positive affirmations for a competition.
Health and social care professionals who attended day two of the event voted for their favourite piece.
Garry Pamment, Sarah Wilkinson, Kevin Morland, Mayor Martha Lloyd Jones, Councillor Peter Lloyd Jones and Ian McDougall (Image: Amore Complex Care)
Ian McDougall, managing director of Amore Group, said: “Seeing our clients, teams and community come together to celebrate creativity and the role it plays in our collective wellbeing brings me enormous pride.
“We are committed to prioritising mental health and promoting wellbeing for both our clients and the teams who support them.”
Amore Complex Care supports individuals with complex needs across the North West and Yorkshire, helping them lead independent and fulfilling lives through clinical and behavioural care in their own homes.