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High Rate of PTSD and Suicide Attempts Among Grenfell Tower Survivors in London

© REUTERS / Neil HallDemonstrators protest against the Grenfell Tower fire outside a Kensington and Chelsea Council meeting at Kensington Town Hall in London, Britain July 19, 2017.
Demonstrators protest against the Grenfell Tower fire outside a Kensington and Chelsea Council meeting at Kensington Town Hall in London, Britain July 19, 2017. - Sputnik International
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Reports of several suicide attempts and outlets pushing drugs to vulnerable survivors of the Grenfell Tower blaze that devastated West London in June, have shocked people once again, as campaigners are calling for more help from the British government.

Floral tributes for the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire are left outside the Notting Hill Methodist Church, in London, Britain June 20, 2017. - Sputnik International
UK Police Say There're Grounds for Manslaughter Charges Over Grenfell Tower Fire
The Grenfell Tower fire tore a community apart. In the days after the tragedy, missing picture posters of loved ones filled the streets.

However one month on, as bodies are identified and funerals take place, people are slowly coming to terms with their loss and the fact that this fire, which killed at least 80 people, really did happen. 

The latest body to be identified was that of two-year-old Jeremiah Deen. 

​Many of the survivors and family members of people who perished are suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) which is defined as an anxiety disorder caused by a very "stressful, frightening or distressing event."

Judy Bolton, a clinical nurse and coordinator of the Justice for Grenfell campaign told Sputnik that the help from local and national government has been minimal and more needs to be done to ensure those suffering from PTSD are helped.

"The UK government or gold command has said they will provide mental health services, to those who are traumatized and obviously in a terrible state. But they are expected to go to them and access these services. So it's not a referral, it's if you feel that you need mental health support, you have to go to them, which beggars belief as many people wouldn't recognize or even know the symptoms of stress, distress, trauma or suicide," Ms. Bolton told Sputnik.

​"This is an unprecedented event and I would have hoped that the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea would have actually seen the need to go to the survivors and bereaved families because they also are traumatized as well," Ms. Bolton added.

Judy Bolton is all too familiar with the symptoms of PTSD, as a trained clinical nurse, Ms. Bolton has seen the impact of the condition, comparing it to the grieving process.

People will be in denial, many will still be living in disbelief that this has happened, but soon the realization kicks in and the person, unable to cope with their loss and the situation, isolates themselves and stops talking in a bid to deal with the pain.

"With PTSD you are not able to rationally process, it's too much, and so people will go into themselves. Also they will go through erratic sleeping, sometimes not even sleeping. Also anxiety — it can paralyze you… You may see someone withdrawn and zapped out in a chair, not moving or blinking and they are locked in their own trauma," Ms. Bolton told Sputnik.

"I spoke to one gentlemen, he has worked all his life… he saved his partner and child from the fire, but now he has to sleep with the light on because he is scared to go to the bathroom at night," Ms Bolton said.

Signs of PTSD are palpitations, difficulty breathing, dizziness, sweating of hands and face. Ms. Bolton said people will also have an irrational fear of going outside and may develop agoraphobia.

© REUTERS / Toby MelvilleFlames and smoke billow as firefighters deal with a serious fire in a tower block at Latimer Road in West London, Britain June 14, 2017
Flames and smoke billow as firefighters deal with a serious fire in a tower block at Latimer Road in West London, Britain June 14, 2017 - Sputnik International
Flames and smoke billow as firefighters deal with a serious fire in a tower block at Latimer Road in West London, Britain June 14, 2017

Several reports of people trying to commit suicide have recently surfaced. Ms. Bolton is unable to discuss the details in order to protect people's privacy, but she says the trauma of surviving the fire has led many to want to commit suicide or self-medicate with drugs.

"The police are very aware of the drug dealers in the area. They are very aware of certain outlets that provide illicit drugs […]. We have had an influx of people outside of the area coming in to capitalize on the misery. Again those who seek to capitalize only have to ask questions, the drug dealers are more organized than gold command. Again, it's down to Notting Hill police to ensure they go to the outlets and shut these things down," Ms. Bolton told Sputnik

With cuts being made to every area of mental health, accessing support is not easy.

© REUTERS / Marko DjuricaDemonstrators march during a protest about the Grenfell Tower fire, in London, Britain, June 21, 2017
Demonstrators march during a protest about the Grenfell Tower fire, in London, Britain, June 21, 2017 - Sputnik International
Demonstrators march during a protest about the Grenfell Tower fire, in London, Britain, June 21, 2017

Ms. Bolton commends the local services that have helped thus far, but says waiting times are so long that support has had to be provided by the community.

"We have volunteers who go out at night and help those who can't sleep. Even at 3am you see people walking the streets as they can't sleep. So you have volunteers who will help people and talk to them.

"What we need is a safe place that is accessible 24 hours a day for people to be able to come and help, and receive help [….] People are in a real state and it's a collective state of PTSD," Ms. Bolton concluded.

If you know of someone suffering from PTSD since the Grenfell Tower incident, please contact the Justice for Grenfell website or the Samaritans.

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