Immersive Training Guide

VR and simulation training for the military, government, healthcare and business

SIMmersion

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SIMmersion is a Maryland company, founded in 2002 by Dale Olsen, that builds conversation training with virtual role-players using its PeopleSim technology, which Olsen first developed at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.

Websitehttps://www.simmersion.com/
HeadquartersColumbia, Maryland
Founded2002
OwnershipNot published.
In this guideSuicide prevention and SAPR

This profile uses the same fields and length limits as every other provider in the guide, drawn from SIMmersion’s own materials and public records.

Suicide prevention and SAPR

Products named: Suicide Prevention Training Suite; Suicide Prevention: Assessing Risk with Taye Banks; Suicide Prevention: Motivating to Treatment with Katrina Sanderson; Suicide Prevention: Safety Planning with Henry Douglas

What they offerSIMmersion's Suicide Prevention Training Suite has learners talk with three virtual role-players to assess suicide risk, motivate a patient toward treatment and build a safety plan, with educational materials and feedback after each conversation. SIMmersion also builds custom conversation simulations.
Who they serveSIMmersion designed its current suicide prevention suite for clinicians and medical institutions; its past custom military work includes a suicide intervention trainer built for Army chaplains, counselors and other providers.
How it is deliveredSIMmersion says most training runs in a web browser on PCs, tablets and phones, with hosted, hybrid or local installation options; learners can speak chosen statements through a microphone.
VR headset: not published; Desktop or browser: yes; Mobile: yes; Offline: not published; Classified: not published
Assessment and analyticsSIMmersion gives learners feedback during and after each conversation, and its Admin Center reports logins, training time, transcripts and scores. SIMmersion's site lists research studies of its suicide risk-assessment role-play.
AI featuresSIMmersion's PeopleSim engine selects each role-player response using an emotional model, conversation memory and character history, and speech recognition lets learners say their chosen statements aloud.
Notable public programs and contractsSBIR.gov lists National Institutes of Health awards to SIMmersion in 2017 and 2018 to build and test suicide prevention role-plays for primary care providers. USAspending lists a 2009 Air Force purchase of SIMmersion sexual assault training.
How to buySIMmersion says federal buyers can contract through SBIR Phase III, citing its Phase III status, or through Other Transaction Authority; it also sells individual licenses online and offers group pricing.

Compare with other providers of suicide prevention and SAPR

Sources

  1. About SIMmersion and Building Virtual Human Role-Players. SIMmersion. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
  2. Contact Us and Learn More About Virtual Human Role-Players. SIMmersion. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
  3. Award | SBIR. U.S. Small Business Administration (SBIR.gov). Retrieved October 21, 2026.
  4. Virtual Human Role-Players for Suicide Prevention Training. SIMmersion. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
  5. Suicide Prevention Training with Virtual Human Role-Players. SIMmersion. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
  6. Purchasing Virtual Human Role-Players. SIMmersion. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
  7. Past Performance Built With Virtual Human Role-Players. SIMmersion. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
  8. FAQ: Need to Know About Virtual Human Role-Players. SIMmersion. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
  9. Delivery Options to Train with Virtual Human Role-Players. SIMmersion. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
  10. Suicide Prevention: Assessing Risk with Taye Banks. SIMmersion. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
  11. Administrative Center for Virtual Human Role-Players. SIMmersion. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
  12. Realistic Virtual Human Role-Players. SIMmersion. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
  13. Award | SBIR. U.S. Small Business Administration (SBIR.gov). Retrieved October 21, 2026.
  14. USAspending.gov award record FA701409C0041 (Purchase sexual assault training). USAspending.gov (U.S. Department of the Treasury). Retrieved October 21, 2026.
  15. Federal Government | Procure Virtual Human Role-Players. SIMmersion. Retrieved October 21, 2026.