Grenfell mental health crisis Europe’s biggest ever

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The mental health response to the Grenfell tragedy is the biggest ever seen in Europe, according to the psychologist in charge, with more than 11,000 people potentially affected.

The local NHS trust has been turned into “the largest trauma service in the UK”, said Dr John Green.

“I think this is the biggest programme there’s ever been in Europe, certainly in terms of mental health.

“There’s never been anything like it,” said Dr Green, who is clinical director of the Grenfell Tower NHS Mental Health Response.

More than 1,300 people have so far been seen for either post-traumatic stress disorder screening or physical health concerns related to the fire.

Two hundred staff are door-knocking people who may be struggling and GPs in the area have logged more than 1,000 Grenfell-related appointments.

Health professionals estimate 11,000 people in the wider area could be struggling in some way, though not all are expected to seek treatment.

As the official health response goes on, Sky News spoke to one woman who has set up her own support group.

Rajaa says she took action as many people are distrustful of the authorities and are shunning their help

Her aunt, Faouzia El Wahabi, died in the fire and she remembers talking to her on the phone as the blaze engulfed the tower

Rajaa says her aunt was calm, saying she had been told to stay put and the Fire Service would come for her, her husband and their three children, Yasin, Nur Huda and Mehdi.

Instead, they all died on the 21st floor.

Rajaa, 35, lives opposite the tower with her six-year-old son. They watched as the fire took hold of the building in the early hours of 14 June.

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