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Using augmented reality to transform our understanding of the lived experience of trauma in regional , rural and remote communities
The problem
Suicide is the leading cause of death for people aged 15-44 in Australia . More than 50 % of people with mental illness do not access any treatment .
In regional , rural and remote areas , problematic levels of suicide point to a disconnect between mental health services and their local populations .
Our solution
We need more imaginative ways to address mental health needs , especially in drought , bushfire and flood-affected areas , says Scientia Professor Jill Bennett , an ARC Laureate Fellow from UNSW . Jill Bennett explores methods for elaborating on trauma , engaging with communities with lived experience to develop immersive and film outputs as mental health tools .
The Felt Experience & Empathy Lab [ fEEL ] at UNSW , established with her ARC Laureate Fellowship , combines participatory design , psychology and immersive media to advance our understanding of subjective embodied experience .
fEEL partnered with public health services in southern Queensland and Yarra Ranges Council in Victoria on an augmented reality project exploring the lived experience of trauma . Hard place / Good place was codesigned with people whose lives have been affected by adversity , including the effects of climate change , storms , drought , bushfire and flood .
The project developed an archive of experiential stories , pairing augmented reality with personal narratives to explore what it means to be in a ‘ hard place ’ or a ‘ good place ’. It asked how we find or create a safe place , encouraging the sharing of stories in a supportive , trauma-informed environment to enhance agency and capacity for psycho-social wellbeing .
The project is part of The Big Reach , a networking strategy of The Big Anxiety – a festival of people + art + science – enabling its flexible ( remote ) delivery in rural , regional and remote areas . Jill Bennett established The Big Anxiety in 2017 to re-imagine mental health in the 21st century .
Our collaboration Jill Bennett collaborated on the project with :
More on this story
> Metro South Health > Yarra Ranges Council > And people from regional , rural and remote areas with a lived experience of trauma .