Demonstrating BREEZE-VR: A Gamified Virtual Reality Biofeedback Breathing Training to Strengthen Mental Resilience and Reduce Acute Stress

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) pose a significant challenge to public health and the economy, underscoring the need for effective strategies in prevention and management. Evidence shows that slow-paced breathing holds promise in strengthening mental resilience and reducing acute stress, both relevant for addressing the prevention and management of NCDs. Biofeedback can help individuals adopt slow-paced breathing patterns, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of breathing trainings. Gamified immersive environments may further amplify these effects. Against this background, we developed BREEZE-VR, a gamified virtual reality biofeedback breathing training. In this paper, we describe the development of the first prototype of BREEZE-VR and provide a video clip demonstrating its use. During the conference, attendees are invited to try out BREEZE-VR. In our future work, we will evaluate the effectiveness and acceptability of BREEZE-VR in a laboratory study.