I showed signs of PTSD after screening a VR experience.
Alongside the day-to-day work of looking after clients and trying out VR experiences, one of most important parts of my job is showing virtual reality to the general public.
I believe that a VR experience begins before you even put a headset on, it starts the moment you enter the room. There is a right and a wrong way to demo VR.
It is hugely important that we make people feel comfortable before and after trying VR. I am quite obsessive about how we (as a company) demo content, but that is all down to years of learning the best practices.
I think that is a good thing that I obsess about this, and that my team cares too.
On several occasions, we have been requested to run VR cinemas or demos for upsetting content. A particular memory that remains with me is when we were running screenings for a VR documentary piece about a tragic event that took place in London.
We were aware of the immense emotional impact that this piece would have on the witnesses, survivors and bereaved.
We made it a priority to ensure we have the support of NHS mental health and wellbeing professionals that could be there to talk with and comfort anyone who needed help.
It turned out, I needed it too.
In this job, you become an emotional sponge. You’re the first point of contact for people when they come out of the headset. You absorb a lot of information and a lot of emotion from other people.
I spoke with witnesses of the tragedy and those who were directly affected — those who were in the streets and those who lost friends and loved ones. I heard harrowing stories. My heart broke over and over again for three days straight, but I wanted to be the right kind of support from the moment the headset came off. I had to be there to listen, to comfort, and to be there for any questions or comments.
After talking to one of the NHS workers about the process of showing the documentary she was interested to learn more about how, as a professional working on an intense project, I was being affected. I was shocked to discover (after being assessed by the NHS worker) that I was showcasing early signs of PTSD.
It is only now, that I realise how much psychological weight from people’s stories you hold onto.
I really appreciate the NHS workers being present during the screenings and I feel incredibly grateful that they were able to look after us and our viewers. This experience is one that I will not ever forget. It has allowed me to really reflect on the importance of having the correct support.
We were extremely fortunate to have the support of NHS workers who helped those in need, but also for helping us maintain our own mental fortitude when handling such heart-breaking topics.
Emotional Impact
Film can elicit emotion. Film in VR does this on an amplified scale. We think VR film tends to be about 4x more impactful than traditional film. If someone watches a 15-minute VR film, it will have an emotional impact akin to someone who watched a 60-minute traditional film.
It can bring joy, humour, nostalgia… But what happens when content makes people feel upset, frustrated, or even re-live a tragic moment in life? As the person running a VR showcase, how do you react?
If you are the first person that a viewer sees when the headset is removed, what is your responsibility in that moment?
I have been to events where the viewer finished a VR experience, they are tearful, maybe even openly weeping, they’re rushed along so the headset can be used for the next person. This is a damaging way to conduct a VR screening.
Being a part of the industry, I can see from both sides, when it comes to running event, you have the pressure to get numbers through each day but we have a responsibility to people that we are showing the content to.
Sometimes if content has certain themes you cannot throw anyone into the mix. Warnings and conversations need to happen.
Additionally, it is important for everyone watching the experiences to have time afterwards to decompress.
Our process for running VR cinemas, particularly for emotional content.
Inform the participants.
Let your audience know how the screening works, how the headset is used. Ensure they are comfortable and know any belongings they brought with them are in a safe space. “There are no fire alarm drills scheduled today, the exit is this way, if you need to contact me or do not want to watch it anymore, you can remove the headset at any time.
Provide Context about the experience.
This can be done in a group setting, let them know what they are watching, if there are any trigger warnings to be aware of. Reiterate that they can remove the headset at any time if they no longer want to watch.
Monitor the experience.
Watch your audience whilst they are in VR, the film has taken over several of their senses and now you are responsible for them and their wellbeing. Learn how people tend to react at certain moment of the experience. Look out for outliers as these are the people who are having difficulties. It could be the headset is not working, it could be they are emotional, or perhaps something else.
Allow decompression after watching the content.
When the film has ended, make an announcement saying thank you for joining us, if you have not done so, you can remove your headset now. Please take your time, there is no rush to leave the room. Take as long as you need. People may want to talk to one another, they may want to talk to you. Be empathetic, listen to what they have to say, try to answer questions where possible but be ready to admit you do not know the answer.
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