Shuna Luo

Hearing voices is one of the most common psychosis symptoms. These auditory hallucinations can be distressing and people who live with conditions like schizophrenia experience stigma. That’s why better mental health treatments and interventions are needed, and why lived experience of what works is vital.

Nicola, who has schizophrenia, is part of the AVATAR therapy research team, studying an experimental digital intervention that could help people experiencing auditory hallucinations.  Nicola, and others enrolled in the trial, work with a therapist to create a digital avatar resembling the voice and face they hear and see. In this video, Nicola shares her experience of schizophrenia and her hopes for this study and future research.

Wellcome is supporting research into new and effective mental health interventions, including clinical trials on the AVATAR therapy.