16 July 2010.  A great television interview with Dr Yvette Ahmad and Fraser Hurrell discussing MyFriendQuest – and the thinking behind it.  

Check out this 6:45 minute interview on the 411 Technology Show on Maori TV on demand here >>>.   

New Zealand Doctor.

The delegates at this week’s congress of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists were presented a paper which will give hope to parents of children with high functioning autism or Asperger’s syndrome. Read more >>

Brightmind Labs is about to release their first video game, but it isn’t just any ordinary game. Targeted at kids aged 6 to 12 who suffer from depression, anxiety or post traumatic stress disorder, this computer game will fuse together immersive gaming principles with cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).

The idea of delivering CBT by computers is not new – it has been clinically proven to be effective, but Brightmind Lab’s point of difference is that its delivery is enclosed in an immersive gaming situation, coined “psytainment”.

Read entire article…

Long gone are the days when video games were just another outlet for children to develop lacksadaisical habits, poor eyesight and pre-arthritic thumbs. Today’s gaming scene is taking on a new approach: fresh, active and even therapeutic.

Whangerei’s BrightMind Labs, founded by CEO Fraser Hurrell and clinical director Dr Yvette Ahmad, is a social venture that seeks to improve the lives of children with mental health issues. By combining Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) with immersive gaming principles, BrightMind Labs is redefining traditional mental health care delivery to provide greater access for all—especially in places where child mental health services are expensive or scarce.

Read entire article…

University of California, Berkeley. Haas School of Business Newswire.

BrightMind Labs uses electronic games to teach children on the autistic spectrum to understand and respond to emotions. Read more >>