Journal of Public Health | pp.

1–2

Correspondence
Virtual reality in Metaverse for future mental health-helping
profession: an alternative solution to the mental health

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challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT

Currently, Metaverse has become a hot topic of conversation everywhere. Therefore, this can also be an accurate solution to the mental health
challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hopefully in the future, mental health workers can make the best use of it.

Keywords Metaverse, mental health, helping profession, COVID-19

Dear editor, The micro-teaching environment is created in a virtual

In response to the latest article on the topic of virtual reality world that resembles a natural field, with a sense of the
for public health: a study on a VR intervention to enhance Metaverse’s spatial and social interaction qualities added. Pre-
occupational injury prevention.1 This topic is very relevant service teachers undertake microteaching, participate in vir-
to what is happening in the world today. Currently, virtual tual classrooms as avatars, and help facilitators and other
reality in Metaverse has become a hot topic of conversation learners enhance their capacity to cope with classroom set-
everywhere. Neal Stephenson used the Metaverse for the first tings by asking questions or making ideas that can be used in
time in literature in his 1992 dystopian novel Snow Crash.2 a real classroom.8 The concept is thought to be applicable in
The book presents the Metaverse as the ultimate evolution counseling, particularly in the helping profession.
of the internet.3,4 A type of virtual reality in which any Online/tele-counseling is becoming more popular in the
virtual interaction can directly impact the real world as well.5 realm of helping professions.9,10 Virtual reality (VR) therapy
Metaverse began as an add-on feature in online games and as and some forms of distance service are in the works, as
a bet by big tech on virtual reality.6 are other developments. In a prior study, participants used
Metaverse is growing in popularity, as evidenced by the virtual reality (VR) to conduct internal dialogue by occupying
presence of different metaverses in the digital world, such two different virtual bodies simultaneously.11 Virtual reality
as the game Sandbox. Various significant corporations are in counseling services has been used to help workers in
currently investing in the Metaverse through land purchases. Japan overcome various traumas and psychological illnesses
Billboards have been placed in the Metaverse, and even well- based on SAT counseling. This application is deemed effective
known fashion brands have sold clothing there. Facebook because it just takes 5–10 minutes. As a result, if virtual
has introduced a concept that is expected to attract 3 (three) reality is created, particularly in the Metaverse, it can benefit
billion Facebook members. mental health among workers and students, and society as a
These developments sparked fresh ideas for creating a whole.
Metaverse in the counseling sector. As a result, the Metaverse Various groups have been drawn to the creation and
that will be established later is envisioned as a counseling advancement of technology in this subject. As a result, the
service bureau that will be raised and sold in the Metaverse authors believe that it will rise in the future. The authors
through virtual reality. Virtual reality as a tool for counseling expect that in the Metaverse, which provides places, two-
has been around for a long time. Virtual reality is a complex way interactions, and virtual sessions that are genuinely
imaginative system that can bridge fantasy and reality.7 Pre- lifelike, there will be openings and possibilities to take up
service teachers’ learning practice has been designed for use the area of delivering counseling and therapeutic services.
in the Metaverse during its development. This is considered suitable since a virtual neuropsychological

© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Faculty of Public Health. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: [email protected] 1
2 JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH

evaluation was carried out to be able to undertake it in the 7. Riva G, Vincelli F. Virtual reality as an advanced imaginal system:
Metaverse, based on the results of prior studies.12 a new experiential approach for counseling and therapy. Int J Action
President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, Methods: Psychodrama, Skill Training Role Playing 2001;54(2):51–64.
recently stated that Indonesia must be prepared to participate 8. Jeong Y, Lim T, Ryu J. Teaching practice for pre-service teachers in the
Metaverse learning environment. In SITE Interactive Conference (pp. 398–
in the Metaverse. Several significant global companies have
403). Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education
begun to join Metaverse to satisfy the need for development (AACE), 2021.
and preparation in this area. Helpers must be prepared to

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9. Situmorang DDB. Online/cyber counseling services in the
enter the Metaverse’s VR-based future ministry. We formed COVID-19 outbreak: are they really new? J Pastoral Care Counsel
the Virtual Reality Counseling and Therapy Association in 2020;74(3):166–74.
Southeast Asia, which became the precursor of the Virtual 10. Situmorang DDB. “When the first session may be the last!”: a case
Reality movement for the Helping Profession in Southeast report of the implementation of “rapid tele-psychotherapy” with
Asia and the excellent prospects for future development. We single-session music therapy in the COVID-19 outbreak. Palliat Sup-
hope that, with our movement, we will be the first contrib- port Care 2021;1–6.
utors in world history to offer counseling services on the 11. Slater M, Neyret S, Johnston T et al. An experimental study of a
virtual reality counselling paradigm using embodied self-dialogue. Sci
Metaverse.
Rep 2019;9(1):1–13.
Funding 12. Parsons TD. Virtual simulations and the second life metaverse:
paradigm shift in neuropsychological assessment. In: Zagalo N, Mor-
The authors declared no funding was received for this paper. gado L, Boa-Ventura A (eds). Virtual Worlds and Metaverse Platforms:
New Communication and Identity Paradigms. Austin, Texas: IGI Global,
2012, 234–50.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest in this paper. Ifdil Ifdil1 , Dominikus David Biondi Situmorang2 , Firman
Firman1 , Nilma Zola1 , Itsar Bolo Rangka3 ,
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