Mental Health and the Metaverse: Ample Opportunities or Alarming Threats for Mental Health in Immersive Worlds?

The proportion of the global burden of disease attributable to mental disorders has been continuously increasing since its first recording and is already at a critical level. While responses to the global mental health crisis are urgently required, implementation of countermeasures has so far been inadequate. Due to potential cost-effectiveness and scalability, technological solutions might play an important role in addressing current and projected mental health needs. The various proposed applications of the metaverse might provide unique opportunities in this regard, while also potentially creating additional mental health strain on individuals. In this panel, we will discuss the challenges and opportunities the metaverse might pose for the future of mental health, and the steps we can take now to harness the metaverse for positive change in global mental health – or prevent it from exacerbating already pressing concerns.