Pioneering AR/VR to tackle youth mental health

42% of students and young people have disclosed mental health as their biggest personal challenge in achieving study and work goals.

The Social Enterprise Hub is proud to support the launch of Creart Digital Media's Mirror XR's SA Digital Mental Health Awareness Program (Leveraging Creative Technology and power of storyliving for social impact) on 2nd July at the Wakefield campus in Adelaide.

The event will unite schools, universities, councils, thought leaders, and government representatives to tackle the mental health crisis collaboratively.

“The Social Enterprise Hub is excited to partner with Creart for the Mirror XR initiative because it firmly aligns with our desire to support innovative methods that create impact across many facets of society both locally in Australia and globally,” said Peter Graves, Manager of the Social Enterprise Hub.

“The Business students are engaged in the development of the marketing strategy. It's a great example of how our students can help real-life clients and make a positive impact while gaining important employability skills,” said Peter.

Youth mental health crisis

The 2024 Mission Australia Youth Survey revealed that not only was mental health a major concern facing Australia according to almost 1 in 4 young people, but more than 1 in 5 (22%) young people experienced high psychological distress and one in five considered mental health as their biggest personal challenge in the past year.

Tragically, many suffer in silence, with stigma and lack of access preventing them from seeking help. Mirror XR aims to change this narrative.

Creative innovation that changes lives and reduces social stigma

Using augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), audiences step into the mindscapes of Kira Clairmont, a fictional singer-songwriter who overcomes self-doubt to achieve her dreams. Guided by Mira.Al, an engaging Al host, participants experience Nora's inner thoughts and become active players in her journey of resilience and growth. By turning VR into a platform for self-exploration rather than escape, Mirror XR creates a safe, reflective space to spark critical conversations around emotional well-being.

“When intentionally crafted, stories have the power to climb the walls of hearts — to inspire, resonate, and connect on a deep level,” said Christel Cherryadi, the founder of Creart Digital Media and the Al-XR Creative Director & Tech Lead of Mirror XR. “The future of storytelling is an evolving landscape with narrative-based story-living games holding so much untapped potential in helping teenagers and young adults map out their emotional challenges, challenge their perspective, and foster personal insights and emotional growth. But, just like it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a whole community approach to bridge the generational gap of technology! Raising awareness around mental health has never been more important.”

Prof Dr Ali Ahsan is a passionate academician with extensive experience and achievements in the higher education industry. He will be on the Mirror XR panel with Taimi Allan (Mental Health Commissioner of South Australia) and other experts in artificial intelligence, education and mental health.

Mirror XR | SA Digital Mental Health Awareness Program Launch on 2nd July 2025 (3:00 PM to 5:00 PM) at the Wakefield campus. Register here!