Virtual Reality-based mental health improvement program for students: solution or white elephant?

Background
The COVID-19 pandemic led to the implementation of social isolation measures and remote learning, significantly impacting students' mental health. Reduced physical activity and social isolation contributed to a rise in mental health challenges, including depression, anxiety, and feelings of loneliness.

Aims
This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of immersive virtual reality (VR) relaxation sessions in reducing stress and improving students' well-being.

Material and methods
The experiment involved 50 university students who participated in daily 10-minute VR sessions over a week, using TierOne GO mobile VR headsets. The headsets provided immersive projections with nature sounds and therapeutic music. Measurements were taken at four 5-minute intervals: before the session (T1), during the session (T2 and T3), and after the session (T4). Stress levels over the past month were assessed using the PSS-10 questionnaire. Heart rate variability (HRV) analysis included indicators such as PNS (Parasympathetic Nervous System), SNS (Sympathetic Nervous System), SDNN (Standard Deviation of NN intervals), RMSSD (Root Mean Square of Successive Differences), LF (Low Frequency), and HF (High Frequency).

Results
The analysis revealed a significant reduction in stress levels immediately after the first relaxation session (T2), as evidenced by changes in PNS and SNS indices and stress markers. Parameters associated with parasympathetic nervous system activity, such as SDNN and RMSSD, also improved. A consistent increase in RMSSD values over the five days suggests a cumulative relaxation effect and adaptation to the VR environment.

Conclusions
The findings indicate that VR can be an effective tool for supporting students' mental health, offering an alternative to traditional therapeutic methods. However, the interpretation of results should consider the lack of a control group and the small sample size.