'When the school bell goes, it's fight or flight' - the PTSD faced by NI's prison guards
Summary
Two former prison guards in Northern Ireland describe how their work led to lasting mental health problems, including complex PTSD. They faced violence, drug issues, and threats from dangerous prisoners and say they received little support from prison management.Key Facts
- Rebecca and Simon are former Northern Ireland prison guards who shared their experiences with PTSD.
- Rebecca reacts with fight or flight responses triggered by everyday sounds like a school bell, linked to alarms at work.
- Simon worked in the Maze prison, known for housing paramilitary prisoners during the Troubles conflict.
- Both dealt with violence, drug problems, and prisoners tied to loyalist and republican groups.
- Simon experienced threats outside work and has ongoing symptoms like flashbacks and physical pain.
- Rebecca mainly worked with sex offenders and suffered multiple physical and verbal attacks at work.
- Both say attacks and threats became normal, and they lacked trust and support in their personal lives.
- The Department of Justice denied claims of neglect about staff safety and wellbeing in Northern Ireland prisons.
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