June 14, 2017 is a tragic day in the modern history of London. In the North Kensington area of West London, a fire broke out in a 24-storey residential building called Grenfell Tower. Within mere minutes the entire building was aflame, officially claiming 72 lives. Seventy others experienced injury. While more than 200 residents escaped, due to the severity, officials are still not sure how many remains of those missing may ever be identified, if at all. Scandal revealed many mishappenings in the construction of the building which lead to the fire becoming so deadly. Starting in the earliest hours of the morning, the fire burned on without total extinction for 60 whole hours. Among the hundreds of residents in the Grenfell Tower itself, and the hundreds of onlookers, as well as neighbors, over 250 London Fire Brigade firefighters, 100 London Ambulance Service, and many other first responders were present to witness the horror of the fire.
Families suffered tremendous tragedy, loss of loved ones, neighbors, and friends. Surviving residents lost everything they owned and have been in an upwards battle to rebuild their lives. More than a year later, researchers are looking at the mental states of those involved in the fires and have found a strong presence of PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder.
According to a report by the National Health System, more than two-thirds of surviving adults, or adults who were affected by the fires, have needed treatment for PTSD, cites The Guardian. The report is being prepared for the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, the article states. PTSD is not reserved only for direct survivors of a traumatic event like the fires at Grenfell Tower. Secondary trauma for those who were onlookers or nearby residents had a rate of PTSD risk between 26% and 48%. Tertiary trauma is also a risk, for investigators assigned to the case, people watching the events transpire on television, or the extended family members of those lost. Â
The numbers do not represent diagnoses of PTSD but the high risk of developing PTSD and certainly the effects of being impact by such severe trauma. Recovery plans are being made to provide psychological service to the entire community impacted by the fires.
Trauma is most often the root cause of many emotional, behavioral, and mood disorders. Until you can heal your trauma, you will find great difficulty finding the healing you need to live a life of recovery, health, and wellness. At Khiron House, we provide effective residential treatment and cutting edge therapies which seek to transform mind, body, and spirit from the effects of trauma. Call us today for information. UK: 020 3811 2575 (24 hours) USA: (866) 801 6184 (24 hours).
