Description
The Arisa wellness application helps individuals achieve and maintain good mental health through mindfulness practices, such as mindful listening and observation, by interacting with art installations. British Columbians are currently facing numerous challenges and changes after the pandemic including health and financial issues, which has increased anxiety. According to a survey by Pacific Blue Cross, 43 per cent of people in BC score their mental health to be fair to poor, compared to just 19 per cent before the pandemic. We believe that now is the time to take action for humanity. Promoting mental health and well-being is one of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals to be achieved by 2030.
Arisa is an accessible, equitable, interactive, and artistic wellness application designed to support individuals with mental health conditions including anxiety. Users can access Arisa through VR headsets or a web browser, ensuring equity, access, and convenience. Inspired by my personal experience of battling anxiety and driven by the increasing prevalence of anxiety and depression among youth and women, I embarked on a mission to create a wellness app that harnesses the power of interactive art.
In the virtual world of Arisa, users are immersed in a sky-like environment adorned with interactive audio-visual installations, such as interactive sonic paintings, creative musical instruments, simple games, interactive visuals, and calming music. Each installation invites interaction, allowing individuals to practice mindfulness by creating calming sounds and music, engaging in deep listening and observation, focusing on breathing, and making mindful choices. These practices have shown significant impacts on reducing anxiety.
