Virtual reality is emerging as a powerful tool to improve care for veterans, including helping community members recognize suicide warning signs. Researchers at The University of Texas at Arlington have conducted two studies exploring how the technology can address the complex challenges veterans face.
For the first, social work Professor Micki Washburn found that a VR-based mindfulness tool designed to create calming scenarios helped veterans manage anxiety, pain and stress. For the second, conducted in collaboration with fellow UT Arlington social work Professor Donna Schuman, the researchers found that VR can help train community members to recognize signs of suicide risk among veterans in rural areas, a timely development as September is Suicide Prevention Month.
Both interventions aim to close health and support gaps affecting veterans. The research reflects UTA's broader commitment to serving veterans and military-connected students. UTA is consistently recognized as one of the most military-friendly universities in the country.
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Research shows veterans face numerous physical and mental health concerns, such as chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder. For the first study, 61 veterans completed a 15-minute VR session with DawnVR, a company that specializes in creating immersive virtual environments. Participants selected from calming virtual scenarios—such as watching polar bears on an iceberg at sunset or relaxing on a tropical beach—and followed deep-breathing prompts that reinforced feelings of calm and relaxation.
"This type of VR is distraction-based," Dr. Washburn said of the preliminary evaluation published in the Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work. "It redirects attention away from pain or anxiety by immersing users in calming environments. Some used it before therapy sessions to manage anxiety or before outpatient medical procedures."
Participants who provided demographic information were mostly male and over the age of 50. All 61 said they would use a VR headset at home to support their health and wellness. Only one participant reported that the VR tool did not help them relax.
"I was pleasantly surprised by the positive feedback," Washburn said. "It was an interesting pilot, and we hope to build on it."
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For the project focused on identifying suicide risks among veterans, Washburn said a VR-based approach was more effective than traditional simulation tools.
"This tool allows us to train people in the community to identify suicide risks and explore different scenarios and responses with a virtual client," she said. "If they make mistakes, they can go through the simulation again until they get it right, with no risk to an actual veteran. That's something that cannot be done in real life."
The goal is to improve mental health literacy among everyday citizens who live or work alongside rural veterans. Washburn said warning signs can include things such as an unsecured firearm or a bottle of medication that remains full despite it being prescribed a month earlier.
"These are signs that can easily be missed if you don't know what to look for," Washburn said. "So, we've built training to be accessible and relevant to anyone who has a veteran in their life they care about."
The study had a collaborative approach, drawing on expertise from across UTA. The College of Liberal Arts contributed graphic design for the training intervention, while the College of Nursing and Health Innovation's Center for Rural Health and Nursing provided subject-matter expertise.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that between 2017 and 2020, suicide rates among veterans were 1.57 to 1.66 times higher than those of nonveterans. The rates are even higher among veterans living in rural communities, Washburn noted.
"Rural veterans are generally more disconnected from resources than people in urban areas," she said. "They're more likely to face barriers such as a lack of transportation, fewer health services and limited mental health infrastructure."
The study also aims to dispel a common misconception on suicide.
"Many people still wrongly believe that asking someone about suicide makes it more likely to happen, but research shows the opposite," Washburn said. "Talking about it—normalizing feelings of hopelessness, stress, or being overwhelmed—can actually reduce the risk of someone following through on a plan."
About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
Celebrating its 130th anniversary in 2025, The University of Texas at Arlington is a growing public research university in the heart of the thriving Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. With a student body of over 41,000, UTA is the second-largest institution in the University of Texas System, offering more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Recognized as a Carnegie R-1 university, UTA stands among the nation's top 5% of institutions for research activity. UTA and its 280,000 alumni generate an annual economic impact of $28.8 billion for the state. The University has received the Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and has earned recognition for its focus on student access and success, considered key drivers to economic growth and social progress for North Texas and beyond.
