By Charlotte Webster-
The grief of the surviving members of Grenfell fire will very likely be affecting their mental health in ways beyond which words can express. The effects of sorrow on the mental health can take its toll on those mourning the deaths of loved ones in ways that can be long-lasting and potentially damaging to the life prospects of those affected by loss.
Feelings of sadness, anger, loneliness, and hopelessness are all common emotions that people experience during the grieving process. These emotions can vary in severity, but for some people, they may be overwhelming. Grief is an emotional rollercoaster, but at chronic level can develop into a mental health disorder.
Some of the common symptoms of chronic grief include prolonged sadness on a daily basis which can lead to the neglect of daily responsibilities due to depression. It can also lead to an absence of motivation to interact with people or attend social events. Many of those who suffer this kind of loss can experience intense anger and pain as a result of the pain. The level of pain can be deeper depending on the cause and nature of the loss in question.
Longitudinal studies have found that 1 month after people were widowed, 40% of survivors still suffer a major episode of depression episode, but most researchers argue that this amount of time is not long enough to diagnose depression.
Grief can cause psychosis or the development of psychotic symptoms. Research on the connection between bereavement and mental health disorders involving psychosis suggest that grief triggers the onset of these symptoms because of any underlying disorder, but more research is necessary for a clearer answer.
The mental effects of grief can negatively impact a person’s actions and behaviors as well. When people are struggling and neglect to get mental health or depression treatment, they are likely to engage in dangerous or more risky behavior than normal.
Researchers have found that some people indulge in self-harm or suicidal actions more. In other cases , those undergoing intense grief may turn to substances like drugs or illicit drugs, or even increased consumption of alcohol as a coping mechanism for their grief.
They can be a lot be more prone to violence as a result of anger, thereby being provoked easily, depending on their underlying tendencies. Over time, this behavior can become habitual and an addiction may occur. In the absence of obtaining adequate help, it could turn into a mental illness.
Mental health experts say that individuals coping with grief as a result of losing family members from disasters like the Grenfell fire can suffer an exacerbated level of pain if they feel there have been no punitive measures implemented against offending parties.
Underestimating the potential effects of grief on surviving family members can be very dangerous and selfish. Mental health analyst, Deon Vernhoven, told The Eye Of Media.Com: ” there is often a direct connection between sorrow and mental health because the mental well-being of those affected can be seriously diminished, especially if the surviving family member was close to the relative who died.
In many cases the relative can appear in their dream in a way that appears so real, it can heighten the sadness when they wake up to realize it was just a dream, reinforcing the reality that they are no more.
‘It is ofcourse not automatic that everybody who looses a loved one suffers mental health issues, but when they die in circumstances similar to those who lost their lives in Grenfell, it is almost inevitable that family members close to those victims, especially those who were there with them will suffer a heightened degree of mental health for a prolonged period of time’.
”Individuals who are still seeking justice are very likely to feel an intense degree of anger, it is important that we as a society do all we can to try and achieve some form of legitimate justice for them. The fact that those who were complicit in the negligence that led to their death were not punished at all and many are still in well paid jobs, must be a kick in the teeth for many of the victims. It truly is a disgrace on our system”.
Researcher and experienced academic Joshua Hoopwood added: ”the accounts of Grenfell are deeply distressing and it is difficult to imagine the pain the surviving family members are going through. We must remember that even in educational settings, pupils are afforded mitigating circumstances when they have suffered a loss in the family. This is because psychologists have long established that sorrow affects the mental health, and this can affect academic performance in exams.
If pupils can experience mental health issues due to losing a loved one even in natural circumstances, imagine the potential impact when a family member is lost due to the negligence of others. It must be very painful. The media, the government, and the police, should accelerate the process of accountability for family members of the bereaved. They have already suffered too long”.
The Metropolitan police say they it could take at least another year before they consider bringing any charges. This means keeping grieving family members who have waited a long five years already waiting another 12 months. A year of torture without answers is both terrible and unforgivable. The pain can be indescribable.
All parties concerned with the issue of accountability have a lot to answer for. Right from the prime minister Boris Johnson, to the levelling up minister, Michael Gove, Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan , the incumbent head of police, Sir Stephen House, and many more.
The decision to wait for a full report before conclusively deciding where blame lies is simply unsatisfactory. Too many people have died, and there are people who must be blamed for it because they should have prevented it.