Due to privacy concerns, open dialogue datasets for mental health are primarily generated through human or AI synthesis methods. However, the inherent implicit nature of psychological processes, particularly those of clients, poses challenges to the authenticity and diversity of synthetic data. In this paper, we propose ECAs (short for Embodied Conversational Agents), a framework for embodied agent simulation based on Large Language Models (LLMs) that incorporates multiple psychological theoretical principles. Using simulation, we expand real counseling case data into a nuanced embodied cognitive memory space and generate dialogue data based on high-frequency counseling questions. We validated our framework using the D4 dataset. First, we created a public ECAs dataset through batch simulations based on D4. Licensed counselors evaluated our method, demonstrating that it significantly outperforms baselines in simulation authenticity and necessity. Additionally, two LLM-based automated evaluation methods were employed to confirm the higher quality of the generated dialogues compared to the baselines.

A significant number of De facto orphans in underdeveloped regions face potential mental health risks, while some novel interventions attempt to involve university student volunteers in providing companionship. However, there is little documented literature on current practices of such emotional support volunteer activities. We conducted a comprehensive investigation of multiple stakeholders involved in an online companionship program facilitated by university student volunteers, designed to provide remote emotional support to these children. Through field observations and interviews, we summarize current practices and identify benefits. We discovered that current remote volunteer initiatives face numerous challenges impeding companionship effectiveness. We summarized four potential technological requirements derived from these challenges. Our study provides the first documented account of remote volunteer companionship activities aimed at improving vulnerable children’s mental health. Our research can inspire future developments of technological solutions for improving emotional companionship in volunteer programs and vulnerable children’s wellbeing.