Inside Mental Health is an immersive training experience combining Anagram’s award-winning Playing with Reality XR series with facilitated sessions led by healthcare professionals.
Developed in partnership with the NHS and the University of the West of England, the programme invites healthcare professionals and students to step into the lived experience of mental health. It shifts understanding from abstract knowledge to embodied perspective. Pilot programmes with the above partners have  enabled the team to test and refine the experience with students and healthcare professionals, ensuring it is both emotionally impactful and scalable across different training contexts.
The experience centres empathy as a practice. It supports better patient outcomes by helping those working in health and social care develop a deeper awareness of their patients, themselves and their colleagues. At the same time, it builds resilience across all levels of training and practice.
Process
The experience unfolds in three stages: onboarding, a solo VR encounter, and a facilitated group debrief. Each stage is designed to hold attention, create space for reflection, and support the translation of insight into practice.
The debrief is guided by the Diamond Debrief model, a framework used in simulation-based medical training. It begins with open reflection on emotional and sensory responses, then focuses attention towards key insights and practical application. This structure allows participants to process the experience together and connect it to real clinical situations.
Working closely with clinicians, educators and academic partners, the programme was tested and refined in live training environments. This ensures the experience is both emotionally resonant and scalable across different healthcare contexts.
