Survivors of London Grenfell Tower Fire Have Attempted Suicide

• 09.06.2017, 13:41
•  Europe,  World

At least 20 survivors and witnesses of the Grenfell Tower fire have attempted suicide, a support network has said.

Silence of Suicide founder Yvette Greenway told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme the number was based on conversations with residents.

According to her, many residents were unable to get images of the burning tower "out of their minds".

"There is a lot of alcohol and drug dependency," she said. "People are feeling isolated."

Judy Bolton, a nurse for 20 years who is now co-ordinating volunteers for Justice4Grenfell, said there were multiple factors in why people were attempting suicide, including depression, survivor guilt and feeling unable to cope with the loss of loved ones.

According to her, people saw their neighbours falling from a burning building; they saw children being dropped from the building.

"There just isn't the proper psychiatric help that people need," she said.