Virtual reality overdose response training

As part of the No One Left Behind campaign, we are proud to highlight some of the ways CAMH is providing leadership in addictions by offering people new and effective treatments, and inspiring hope through innovative research.

What is opioid overdose virtual reality training?

The CAMH Simulation Centre is North America's first simulation centre focused on teaching, research and quality improvement at all levels of mental health education. An innovative initiative currently being led by the Simulation Centre is virtual reality training for health care providers and the public on how to respond to an opioid overdose.

This training approach has been designed to help people:

• assess a collapse for safety;
• identify an opioid overdose and call for help;
• administer the required treatment and monitor the patient’s response;
• and support the patient after an overdose.

Learners can complete these steps either in a virtual reality headset or on a desktop computer. At the end of the experience, learners get individualized feedback and can complete the experience as many times as they would like to ensure they respond effectively to an opioid overdose.

How was this technology developed?

CAMH’s education department is continually researching and evaluating new ways of learning – like virtual reality – to understand how innovative technologies can support the next generation of health care professionals. This virtual reality training was co-developed with clinical experts and lived experience advisors. The goal was to deliver a training that is informed by best practices and community expertise, and to ensure that training is patient-centred and trauma-informed.