SimCoach Evaluation: A Virtual Human Intervention to Encourage Servicemember Help-seeking for PTSD and Depression

SimCoach Evaluation: A Virtual Human Intervention to Encourage Servicemember Help-seeking for PTSD and Depression

SimCoach, a computer program featuring a virtual human that speaks and gestures in a videogame-like interface, is designed to encourage servicemembers, especially those with signs or symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or depression, to seek help to improve their psychological health. The assessment included a formative component assessing SimCoach's design, development, and implementation approaches, as well as a summative component assessing outcomes among participants in a user experience survey and a randomized controlled trial (RCT).

Inclusion Criteria:

• 18 years of age and
• active duty or Reserve servicemember or National Guard servicemember and
• being off duty

Exclusion Criteria:

• under the age of 18 years
• retired servicemember or not a servicemember
• currently on duty
• currently incarcerated, on parole, or on probation