Universal Music Group (UMG) and Cardiff-based Rescape Innovation have teamed up to explore a new virtual reality (VR) treatment for anxiety that incorporates personalized music.
The collaborative research project, dubbed ‘VR-Melody’, aims to develop a new approach to mental health treatment by integrating music, scenic virtual environments, and active listening exercises, according to a press release on Wednesday (December 11).
The study will involve up to 50 participants who will use a VR module at home for 10-14 days to assess its potential benefits.
The timing of the research is particularly significant. In the UK, anxiety affects about60% of the population, with mental health costs estimated at £105.2 billion ($134 billion) in the country alone. Concerningly, a third of teenagers have been prescribed antidepressants, rising to 43% among 19-21-year-olds, Universal Music Group andRescape Innovation noted, citing earlier research.
