At least 20 Grenfell Tower fire survivors have attempted suicide, mental health charity says

At least 20 survivors and witnesses of the Grenfell Tower fire have attempted suicide in the months following the disaster, a charity has said.

Yvette Greenway, the founder of Silence of Suicide, said the charity had been told of numerous suicide attempts when speaking to groups supporting survivors of the blaze.

She said residents and witnesses were unable to get images of the burning tower "out of their minds" and that there is “little confidence” in council-led mental health services.

At least 80 people are believed to have died when a huge fire broke out at the tower on June 14.

Ms Greenway told the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire Show: “There is a lot of alcohol and drug dependency. People are feeling isolated.

She added: "We've been told workers are going around putting leaflets under hotel doors and not actually speaking to people.

"There are going to be many more instances of PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder], depression, anxiety and self-harming as people reach different stages of trauma.”

Justice4Grenfell's Judy Bolton said volunteers working with survivors had also told her of 20 suicide attempts, though the BBC was unable to verify the figure.

She called for mental health services to be more proactive in their approach to the tragedy, saying workers should go to the victims.

Councillor Kim Taylor-Smith, deputy leader of Kensington and Chelsea Council, said: “The Grenfell Tower fire is a humanitarian crisis on a unique scale and the borough of Kensington and Chelsea has committed to supporting those affected by this tragedy.

"There is a network of support available, including proactive work within the community and schools, a 24 NHS helpline and emotional support services provided by local community groups along with the Samaritans."