Most people go through some kind of traumatic event in their lifetime. In some cases, the effects are short-term but for many people, those experiences persist for years causing post-traumatic stress disorder, also known as PTSD. Events such as natural disasters, serious accidents, terrorist acts, war or combat, rape or sexual assault, historical trauma, intimate partner violence and bullying, or death of a loved one could be the source of developing PTSD.

PTSD symptoms often fall into four categories: a) intrusive thoughts or images related to the traumatic experience, such as; nightmares and vivid flashbacks, b) avoiding reminders of the trauma, c) negative thoughts or feelings like fear and anger, and, d) reactive symptoms like irritability and sleep difficulty. However, not everyone has these symptoms to the same extent or intensity and each person’s experience is unique to them.

Triggers can include sights, sounds, smells, or thoughts that remind you of the traumatic event in some way. Some PTSD triggers are obvious, such as seeing a news report of an assault while others can be less clear.

A mental health professional who has experience helping people with trauma, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, or clinical social worker, can determine whether symptoms meet the criteria for PTSD.

Yes, absolutely. Social support, empathy, and support are key steps towards recovery. If you think someone is suffering from PTSD, encourage them to contact a mental health professional who will introduce them to treatment options after conducting an evaluation.

Digital storytelling for PTSD involves using technology to help individuals suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) share and process their traumatic experiences in a structured and therapeutic manner. This approach integrates personal stories in the form of videos to create an interactive storytelling experience.

The EHS app is an interactive Digital Storytelling (DST) platform that integrates personal narratives, or ‘stories’, to process traumatic experiences in a structured and therapeutic manner. DST has been proven to have several positive effects on trauma victims which include facilitating the sharing of stories by telling your own story and listening to those of others. Through this process, the App user will develop empathy towards others and build connections that will help them re-create their story and overcome trauma. Users will find a safe community space where new stories can be built.

EHS has developed a smartphone application which provides an option for anonymity and complies with country-specific data privacy laws. This unique smartphone application is based on advanced technologies in user-interface programming and software platform development and is digitizing the process of mental healthcare while creating universal access.

Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee this app will help everyone. However, storytelling's power extends beyond individual therapy sessions. Listening to others' stories is equally therapeutic, fostering empathy and connection. Active listening creates a space where people feel heard and understood, reinforcing their sense of self-worth.

Yes. We provide the user with the opportunity to remain anonymous by either choosing an avatar or blurring their video.

This application is disseminated only through partnerships with other organizations. We allow the user to remain anonymous and our smart phone application complies with country-specific data privacy laws.

Recounting your trauma does have the potential to re-traumatize you. However, it is an important step in reprocessing your trauma and will help you on your healing journey. Through telling your story, we want you to construct a detailed, comprehensive, and meaningful narrative of the traumatic events in your life. The goal of having you retell the things that have happened to you is that you can integrate it into your life and your people’s life history.

The EHS App is available currently only via organizations we are working with directly. If you are an organization working with vulnerable populations, you can get in touch with us for further information.