Co-creation In The Metaverse Towards Better Mental Health

Abstract: Struggles with mental health are at an all-time high, and there is a lack the community resources to respond to the needs of individuals dealing with anxiety, burnout, and social isolation. With the rise of the Metaverse, there is potential in using virtual worlds, avatars, and games to address the lack of available community resources for mental health. Game worlds such as Final Fantasy XIV already have thriving communities of players. A sub-category of “role-players” is a niche subculture within the gaming community that repurposed in-game lore and elements to create unique experiences at virtual venues. A handful of these venues purpose themselves to relieve stress and foster community building. By conducting virtual ethnography in Final Fantasy XIV I will learn about community building in the role-playing community and build and test a virtual venue to reveal the effectiveness of virtual worlds to help mitigate the impact on anxiety, burnout, and social isolation.

Keywords: Metaverse, Therapy, Virtual Communities

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1002546

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