Name
Developing Virtual Reality Simulation for Interprofessional Training in Youth Suicide Prevention: Lessons from the SHINE Program
Description

Preparing the healthcare workforce to respond. effectively to youth suicide risk requires training that is interprofessional, collaborative, and experiential. This session describes the development and implementation of a virtual reality (VR) within the SHINE program, an interprofessional training initiative focused on suicide prevention and crisis management with youth. Graduate students from Marriage and Family Therapy, Nurse Practitioner, and Occupational Therapy programs participated in the immersive training experience designed to simulate a youth behavioral health crisis, requiring a coordinated team response. Presenters will outline the collaborative process used to design the VR scenario, integrate the simulation into interprofessional training, and implement the experience with students. Lessons learned from student feedback and early implementation will also be shared to inform future project iterations and guide other programs seeking to incorporate immersive simulation into integrated behavioral health training.

Speakers
Jessica Chou
Rikki Patton, PhD
Co-Authors
Troi Rutherford; Christian Jordal; Andrea Tyszka; Stephanie Ewing; Arun Ramakrishnan
Content Level
All Audience
Tags
Innovations, Suicide, Workforce development
Session Type
Poster
Objective 1
Describe the process of developing a virtual reality (VR) simulation for interprofessional training in youth suicide prevention and crisis management.
Objective 2
Identify key considerations when implementing VR-based simulation within interprofessional health professions education.
Objective 3
Apply practical strategies for integrating VR or other experiential learning approaches into interprofessional training for suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis response.
Content Reference 1

Gay, M. (2025). Enhancing Youth Suicide Prevention: The Critical Role of Family Involvement in Screening, Intervention, and Postvention. Families Systems & Health, 43(2), 342–356. https://doi.org/10.1037/fsh0000994

Content Reference 2

Mann, J. J., Michel, C. A., & Auerbach, R. P. (2021). Improving suicide prevention through evidence-based strategies: a systematic review. American journal of psychiatry, 178(7), 611-624.

Content Reference 3

Donovan, S., Maggiulli, L., Aiello, J., Centeno, P., John, S., & Pisani, A. (2023). Evaluation of sustainable, blended learning workforce education for suicide prevention in youth services. Children and Youth Services Review, 148, 106852.

Content Reference 4

Steen, C. W., Söderström, K., Stensrud, B., Nylund, I. B., & Siqveland, J. (2024). The effectiveness of virtual reality training on knowledge, skills and attitudes of health care professionals and students in assessing and treating mental health disorders: a systematic review. BMC medical education, 24(1), 480.

Content Reference 5

Lie, S. S., Helle, N., Sletteland, N. V., Vikman, M. D., & Bonsaksen, T. (2023). Implementation of virtual reality in health professions education: scoping review. JMIR medical education, 9, e41589.