100 FEATURE
I nnovation and education have always been at the forefront of the Forensic Psychiatry Program (FPP) at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton in Canada. In the past five years, this has been demonstrated in virtual reality (VR)–based training, accredited weekly international online lectures, and cloud-based risk assessment. Virtual reality–based training The FPP has been using VR as an adjunct to traditional education for health care workers to navigate challenging situations safely and ethically. During training, staff don VR headsets and use controllers
HOW VR, GLOBAL LEARNING, AND CLOUD TECH ARE TRANSFORMING FORENSIC PSYCHIATRY
(violent patient), code blue (medical emergency), and forensic psychiatry–specific scenarios, such as a courtroom or expert witness testimony experience. The skills acquired during these sessions are not just technical but also build on soft skills like communication and empathy — really understanding the patient’s perspective and how to interact with them. Accredited weekly international online lectures In response to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, the FPP has been offering free weekly webinars on a variety of forensic mental health topics. So far in 2025, the International Forensic Psychiatry Lecture Series has averaged 276 live attendees from 66 countries. Sessions are highly accessible due to a one-hour time slot, which includes
to feel physically present in a scenario and interact with
simulated patients and colleagues, providing realistic and immersive experiences.
Various scenarios include responding to a code white
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