AI-Simulated Voices on Roblox Therapy: Addressing the Mental Health Needs of Ukraine’s Children in Conflict

Pre-word:

I thought I would try something different for this article. Using elements of the Generative AI Prompt methods “CREATE” which stands for Character, Request, Examples, Adjustments, Type of Output, and enhancements and “RTF” which stands for Role, Task, and Format, I had ChatGPT simulate the responses from highly respected professionals to my proposal to supply STARLINK Connections and VR Play Therapy through ROBLOX for the children of Ukraine attending “School Number 88” as they move to underground bunker for learning and safety.

Please tell me what you think. Any Feedback would be greatly appreciated.

***************************************************************** This article features AI-generated responses, written from the perspectives of real-world experts, to explore how Roblox play therapy and VR headsets can be used as a vital tool for supporting the mental health of children attending underground schools at School Number 88 in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine. The project proposes using Starlink to provide a stable connection, ensuring that the children—who are living in the harsh realities of war—can immerse themselves in a safe, virtual environment to heal and thrive.

Laurin-Whitney Gottbrath’s Perspective:

The children I’ve met in Ukraine have endured hardships unimaginable to most. In bunkers, they spend hours in the cold, hearing the sounds of war above them. Their eyes are tired, not just from lack of sleep, but from fear. The question I keep asking myself is: How do we help them heal?

For many of these children, traditional forms of therapy are out of reach. That’s why this project, using Roblox play therapy, could be a game-changer. I remember a 10-year-old girl named Alina. She’s shy, with big brown eyes, but her entire demeanor changed when she spoke about a virtual garden she created in Roblox. Her smile, her energy—it was like she was another child. In that virtual garden, she could plant flowers, interact with friends, and feel some sense of normalcy, something war has robbed from her (Gottbrath, 2023).

Joanna Kakissis, Claire Harbage, and Polina Lytvynova’s View:

In Ukraine, there are no safe spaces left for children. Schools, parks, and playgrounds have been destroyed. The streets are lined with the remnants of conflict: crumbled buildings, blown-out windows, and burned-out cars. Yet, amid this chaos, Ukrainian children continue to play, albeit under vastly different circumstances.

We’ve seen children who—despite the destruction around them—find ways to create and imagine. Roblox offers a digital alternative to what’s been lost in the real world. In this virtual space, children aren’t surrounded by crumbling homes or the echo of air raid sirens. Instead, they can run, build, and laugh with their friends. For the children we’ve interviewed, this type of escape is essential, helping them reclaim pieces of the carefree childhood they deserve but have been denied by war (Kakissis, Harbage, & Lytvynova, 2023).

Monet Goldman’s Perspective:

In times of immense hardship, one of the most powerful tools we have to reach children is through their interests, and for many of them, it’s a digital world like Roblox. Imagine a child, isolated in a bunker, surrounded by uncertainty. They’ve lost their school, their home, and their sense of safety. But when they put on a VR headset and enter a Roblox environment, they’re in control again. They can design a home, a garden, or a peaceful retreat—all in their mind. It becomes more than just a game; it’s a space where they can reclaim their agency, process emotions, and express creativity.

When I guide children through Roblox, we create these metaphorical spaces together. I might ask, “Tell me about your world. How does it make you feel?” or, “What would you do if you were really here?” This approach isn’t just about distraction; it’s a means to help these children regain control and build emotional resilience (Goldman, 2023). In war-torn areas, this ability to mentally retreat and regroup is an essential lifeline.

James Elder’s View:

Ukrainian children are facing one of the worst crises imaginable. According to UNICEF, more than 1.5 million children are at risk of developing serious mental health disorders like PTSD and anxiety (UNICEF, 2023). Living underground, many of these children have been trapped in conflict zones, with no sense of routine, safety, or normalcy for months on end.

The numbers are staggering: 80% of families have reported worsening economic conditions, and schools, hospitals, and critical infrastructure have been destroyed (UNICEF, 2023). Play therapy, delivered through Roblox and VR, offers a unique way to support children who may otherwise have no access to mental health services. Virtual spaces provide a critical outlet, allowing children to socialize, learn, and heal within a controlled, supportive environment. With Starlink’s mesh network, we aim to deliver these critical mental health services to 500 children across several underground schools.

It is not a replacement for in-person therapy, but for many, it may be the only accessible form of mental health support. The immersive nature of VR deepens the sense of escape, and we know from experience that children need to feel safe before they can begin to heal. This initiative will allow them to engage with a community of peers in the virtual world, making it easier to talk about their feelings and process the trauma they’ve endured (UNICEF, 2024).

Project Context: The Underground Schools in Zaporizhzhia

As war continues to devastate the Ukrainian educational system, new and innovative solutions are emerging. One such solution is the construction of underground schools in Zaporizhzhia. With over 3,500 educational institutions damaged and nearly 400 schools completely destroyed since the beginning of the war, the need for protected spaces for children to learn is more urgent than ever. School Number 88 has started construction on its third underground bunker, capable of supporting 500 students, giving them a safer environment to continue their education despite the ongoing conflict (Euronews, 2024).

While the creation of underground schools provides physical safety, the children who attend these schools still face severe mental health challenges. The Roblox therapy project, supported by VR and Starlink, aims to address these needs, giving children an outlet to process their trauma and a sense of connection to the world beyond the bunkers.

A Lifeline for Ukraine’s Children

Gottbrath: Alina’s story is one of many. What she and these other children need is more than a return to normalcy—they need healing. And while virtual therapy through Roblox and VR won’t erase the trauma of war, it will give them a crucial lifeline to hope, creativity, and connection. For many children, this will be their first step toward healing (Gottbrath, 2023).

Kakissis, Harbage, & Lytvynova: In documenting the war, we’ve seen the destruction up close, but we’ve also seen resilience. If platforms like Roblox can provide these children with a momentary escape from the realities of war, it’s worth investing in. Because even in the most devastating circumstances, children find ways to imagine and create. Roblox helps keep that spirit alive (Kakissis, Harbage, & Lytvynova, 2023).

References

Euronews. (2024). Construction starts on first underground school in Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia. Retrieved from https://www.euronews.com/ Goldman, M. (2023). Let’s Play Roblox Therapy. Gottbrath, L.-W. (2023). The silent toll of war: Ukraine's growing mental health crisis. Kakissis, J., Harbage, C., & Lytvynova, P. (2023). Frontline children: Battling mental trauma underground. NPR. UNICEF. (2023). War in Ukraine pushes generation of children to the brink. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/war-ukraine-pushes-generation-children-brink-warns-unicef

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