QBE Foundation helps patients with social anxiety return to the community
Authored by QBE Foundation and Employee Communications Co-ordinator Kelly Chambers
The Foundation’s grant is being used to develop a new virtual reality (VR) therapy which can be used to treat acute social anxiety. Social anxiety is a common issue for patients with complex mental ill health, and one which can have a significant impact on their recovery. It is hoped the VR therapy will be available to patients in secure psychiatric hospitals, where this technology presents a unique opportunity for patients who are unable to benefit from conventional treatments, because of their limited access to real life situations.
Dr Sanjith Kamath, Executive Medical Director at St. Andrew’s Healthcare, explained the positive impact virtual therapy can have on mental health patients. She said:
“The aim of the new virtual reality therapy is to help patients re-engage with the world and be able to approach everyday situations feeling more confident and in control, so that they can return back to the community and wherever possible, to home and loved ones. Thank you - your donation will really make a difference to our development of this project, which we hope will have a real impact in supporting our patients with their recovery.”
Your charity could benefit financially from our support too. Visit QBE’s Foundation page to see when we’re accepting applications.
About QBE
QBE European Operations is part of QBE Insurance Group, one of the world’s leading international insurers and reinsurers and Standard & Poor’s A+ rated. Listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, QBE’s gross written premium for the year ended 31 December 2018 was US$13.7 billion.
As a business insurance specialist, QBE European Operations offers a range of insurance products from the standard suite of property, casualty and motor to the specialist financial lines, marine and energy. All are tailored to the individual needs of our small, medium and large client base.
We understand the crucial role that effective risk management plays in all organisations and work hard to understand our clients’ businesses so that we offer insurance solutions that meet their needs – from complex programmes to simpler e-trading solutions – and support them in minimising their risk exposures. Our expert risk management and rehabilitation practitioners focus on helping clients improve their risk management so that they may benefit from a reduction in claims frequency and costs.