Online Resiliency Training Tool Designed for Families of NY Area's 900,000 Veterans

NEW YORK, June 16, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Kognito Interactive (www.kognito.com), a NYC developer of online role-playing training simulations for behavioral health, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs of NY/NJ (VISN3), will present a case study about the creation of an interactive resiliency training simulation (http://www.kognito.com/atrisk/product_families.html) for families of returning veterans, on Monday morning, June 20, at the eighth annual Games for Change Summit (http://gamesforchange.org/festival2011).  

Built with Kognito's proprietary Human Interaction Game Engine™, the simulation allows family members of veterans to engage in virtual role-play conversations with three emotionally responsive veteran avatars who suffer from post-deployment stress. Through this process, users learn to recognize when their own loved ones are exhibiting signs of PTSD, depression, or suicide ideation and how to speak with them, and motivate them to seek help at the VA. Content for the online tool was developed in collaboration with mental health practitioners from VISN3. The case study will introduce the simulation and preliminary findings on its effectiveness.

"Transitioning to post-deployment life is challenging for both the family and the veteran," said Ron Goldman, Kognito CEO. "Family members often struggle with how to talk to a veteran who is experiencing post-deployment stress. The simulations we've created allow family members to practice conversations like this in a risk-free environment, so they're more capable and confident to manage them in real life."

WHO: Ron Goldman, CEO, Dr. Glenn Albright, Director of Applied Research, and Jenelle Boucher, VP Product Design, Kognito Interactive; and Wendy Katz, VISN3 Coordinator – Readjustment Services for Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

WHAT: At-Risk: Case Study of New Online Resiliency Training Simulation for Families of Returning Veterans

WHEN: Monday, June 20, 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

WHERE:  NYU Skirball Center, 566 LaGuardia Place, New York, New York

CONTACT: Christina Pagano for Kognito, 212-213-2851 or 646-382-3871 (cell) or at paganopr@aol.com.

About Games for Change Festival:  Games for Change is the leading global advocate for supporting and making games for social impact. The G4C Festival is NYC's largest gaming event and the only international event uniting "games for change" creators, the public, civil society, academia, the gaming industry and media. For more info see http://gamesforchange.org/festival2011.

SOURCE Kognito Interactive

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