[@KenjuGuy]: Esper powers come from the minds of the people who use them, yes. Some people developed them naturally, others were compatible with therapies to facilitate the development of them.

As for Phantoms, they started attacking population centers and even though they've slowed down a lot now that's still where they show up when they start a new attack. But it's in much smaller numbers now. Most Phantoms are in Ghost Zones and appear there these days, so while attacks in populated areas do happen they're not in as massive numbers.