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RESEARCH

behind the creation of Phantom That Still Dwells

by Charmaine Koh

What's the whole project about?

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PTSD

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

TOPIC & ISSUE

Why did I choose this topic?

Many people have it but have not received treatment as they believe they can handle it on their own.

 

My project aims to encourage people who may have PTSD to seek help by helping them realize their issues through the story.

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To do this, I need to know exactly what symptoms are severe enough to warrant PTSD treatment, so that my character can portray them and realize at what point to seek help.

PROBLEM STATEMENT

At what point does one need treatment for PTSD?

DID YOU KNOW?

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70%

Will experience

 traumatic event.​

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30%

Won't experience

 traumatic event.​

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Around 70% of people globally will experience a potentially traumatic event during their lifetime.

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5.6% will go on to develop PTSD.

(World Health Organization: WHO, 2024b)

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40%

Recover within a year.​

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60%

Don't recover within a year.​

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Even though up to 40% of people with PTSD recover within one year with treatment.

(World Health Organization: WHO, 2024c)

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Fewer than 50% of people with PTSD seek treatment.

(Lundbeck, n.d.)

OPINE

OBSERVE

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  • PTSD is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing a traumatic event. It can cause a wide array of symptoms.

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  • It is an impairing disorder that can disrupt the daily life of a person. Symptoms include re-experiencing traumatic events and engaging in avoidance behaviours.

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  • Many people don't seek PTSD treatment as they believe they can handle it on their own/ are in denial.​​​​

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PONDER

  • Why can't they realize they need help?

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  • What is stopping them from reaching out?

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  • Not realizing they need help only makes them suffer from symptoms more.

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  • Their symptoms also put stress on their relationships with loved ones.

INVESTIGATE

Why can't they realize they need help? â€‹

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  • They can't realize it if they feel they're symptoms are trivial, so they don't want to help themselves cause they think they don't need it.

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  • They don't know what symptoms count as severe enough to warrant treatment, so they have no way to compare their symptoms and realize that they are serious.

What is stopping them from reaching out?

  • Factors like gender roles, mental health stigma, and hopelessness could discourage them.

  • Male sexual assault victims find it hard to seek help due to the belief that women are always the victims.

  • Mental health stigma is still present in today's society in the older generation and certain cultures.

  • Some people with PTSD believe that it is untreatable and there is no point in trying.

NURTURE

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  • To find out what symptoms are severe enough, I need to learn more about them.

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  • Specifically, the symptoms in the events with a high chance of causing PTSD. War and sexual assault.

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  • ​Although mental health is being discussed more, there are very few resources or campaigns specifically on PTSD.

EXPRESS

  • I aim to create a visual novel game about a girl who is struggling with PTSD but learns to overcome it.

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  • Through playing her story, I hope to help people with PTSD realize their symptoms and want to seek help.

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  • To represent it well, I aim to implement the symptoms of PTSD into her story. Taking reference from PTSD in war veterans and sexual assault victims.

PESTLE

Political

Some sociopolitical issues can affect whether someone suffering from PTSD would seek treatment.

  • Women are more likely to develop PTSD compared to men, due to sexual assault being so common.

  • This norm also makes it harder for male victims of sexual assault to admit their trauma and seek help due to their gender.

  • They could fear being stigmatized, and so they choose to hide their PTSD symptoms.

Economical

PTSD can impact the economy due to indirect costs associated with reduced work productivity, being absent from work often or unemployment.

  • PTSD sufferers may find it challenging to be productive at work if something triggers flachbacks of their trauma.

  • The same goes for unemployment. Symptoms may make it difficult for them to find a job.

  • Caregivers of PTSD sufferers may have to skip work to take care of them.

  • The economy would benefit if more people with PTSD were treated.

Social

Mental health stigma can be a barrier to treatment.

​​Chinese traditional beliefs attribute mental illness to:

1. possession by demons

2. wrongful childbearing behaviour

3. wrongdoing by one’s ancestors.

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As a result, people with psychiatric illnesses are shunned.

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  • The difference in cultures in different countries can influence people with PTSD on whether to undergo treatment due to stigma.

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  • PTSD sufferers living in America may be less afraid to seek professionals, while those in China may feel more reluctant to seek help and be in denial.

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  • Having a definite answer on when symptoms are severe enough to warrant treatment may convince those in denial to accept reality and seek help.

Technological

With the advancement of technology, more people could be easily exposed to content that depicts traumatic events.

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  • It was argued that this could cause PTSD in those who viewed such content.

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  • Whether it is possible to obtain second-hand PTSD is still unclear.

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  • If possible, many people could be untreated due to fear of being hated for their controversial opinions.

  • Therefore, having a way to realize if symptoms are severe will encourage these people to seek help.

Legal

It is against a patient's rights to enforce treatment on a patient.

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  • Unless they are in a life-threatening emergency where they are incapable of consenting.

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  • Otherwise, if the person is in denial about having PTSD and refuses treatment, there is nothing medical professionals can do.

  • Having a way to help them realize they need help could also benefit them.

Environmental

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If a person is in a hostile environment, it increases the risk of developing PTSD.

  • Such environments tend to make it difficult for PTSD sufferers to seek help, as it is often discouraged.

  • Growing up in a home with parents who may have PTSD, the parents’ symptoms could traumatize the child, leading them to develop PTSD.

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  • The child may not receive help unless the parents deem it necessary, and it is unlikely, as the parents may also be in denial.

  • They need a way to realize their symptoms are issues that need professional help.

For more information on symptoms and trauma:

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