Play Higher:
Virtual Reality for Behavioral Health Education
Playing for higher purposes.
Mission of the project
Virtual reality offers a way to engage younger audiences in educational settings. What if we used it to demonstrate a behavioral health career in a game environment? In this project we will pilot a virtual reality game for middle and high school student audiences which will educate them about behavioral health and demonstrate career pathways for their future. This is a pipeline project funded by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission in partnership with West Virginia University's School of Social Work.
What's in a name?
Play Higher is the project name because we use play to connect youth with higher education, use play to elevate youth to higher career opportunities, and use play to bring higher functioning to clients who receive the behavioral health treatment that arises from this initiative.
Project Phases
Virtual Reality Game Developer
We will contract with an industry-leading expert to complete the technical aspects of this game development.
Youth Advisory Board
The youth advisory board will give input into the fit of the game for the target audience and the intended purpose.
Pilot Testing
The project personnel will pilot test the game in Monongalia county with at least one middle and one high school.
Professional Advisory Board
Will give input into the fit of the plan for the intended school audiences and provide input into age-appropriate game content.
Want to play?
Head over to our sign-up page to join our list and be the first to know about when the game goes live! Click here or navigate with the left-side menu.
Questions?
Contact megan.gandy at mail.wvu.edu to get more information on the project.