Virtual Connections: Fostering Social Interaction and Creativity for Marginalized Populations Through XR

Social inclusion remains a critical challenge for individuals with severe mental illness (SMI), many of whom face significant psychological and geographical barriers to accessing supportive environments. This position paper presents the design, development, and evaluation of a virtual reality (VR) application replicating the social and creative spaces of Maskine Maskine Amager (MMA), a Danish recovery institution known for its peer-based approach to mental health support. The VR application offers an immersive platform for individuals unable to visit MMA physically, allowing them to visit a virtual version of the space, engage in creative activities, interact with other MMA volunteers and visitors, and experience a sense of community from the safety of their homes.The VR experience was designed through an iterative, user-centered approach, involving MMA stakeholders throughout the process to ensure alignment with the institution’s ethos. An explorative study at the MMA presented in this position paper advocates that VR holds the potential to bridge the gap between virtual and physical participation, which can encourage gradual transitions to in-person engagement and social inclusion.