It's usually the big brands whose virtual world activities make headlines, Worlds in Motion recently spoke with Dick Dillon of Preferred Family Healthcare, who is using the Second Life platform to extend non-profit mental health activism and awareness to a new audience. He talked to us about his experiences and how he's finding success in the virtual world.

So tell us what you're doing in Second Life.

I spend most of my time working with nonprofit ventures. My own organization, Preferred Family Healthcare, is a RL provider of mental health counseling, specializing in substance use disorders. PFH is represented in SL with an office at Plush NonProfit Commons, an office on Commonwealth Island, an informational display on Healthinfo Island and an art gallery and meditation garden on the Tawny sim. The art gallery displays representations of actual art works created by young people in our therapeutic arts program, known as ARTC (Achieving Recovery Through Creativity)

I am also actively involved with the development of the Non Profit Commons project, and very supportive of activities and growth at the other locations as well. There is a lot of good collaboration going on in SL among a variety of not for profit groups. We recognize our common cause pretty easily.

Why did you choose Second Life as a medium for your message?

I learned about Second Life just as an interesting interactive experience, but soon after getting here, I began to see the potential for bringing valuable information to a wide audience. I have been exploring the options ever since.

I think SL has a tremendous potential for the delivery of both information and possibly services to a lot of people in a very cost effective way.

How does the activism role work in Second Life; what methods do you use to get your message out there?

Currently, I have a variety of resources at my offices, including slide shows, note cards, links to websites, etc. I have held some discussion groups and given several interactive lectures. I have two major goals over the next three months. The first is to begin recruiting volunteers so that visitor can summon a person to my sites when they visit for more interactive information exchange. I can't be here all the time!

I also want to start some regular groups to serve as a form of low level intervention for people who may be concerned that they have an emerging substance use disorder problem, or for their family members and friends.

How has the response to your work been so far?

Good. Visitors seem interested. I have had several conversations with people in real time that have resulted in sharing some advice and help to point them towards resources they might be able to use. I have met and established good relationships with a few professional colleagues, which should result in some collaborative efforts over time. I have received the donation of one plot of land (The Tawny location) and several hundred Linden dollars --- doesn't add up to a lot yet, but it is a start.