A COMMUNITY worker has called for more compassion after watching as people walked past a man as he lay bleeding in the street.
Graham Warke was taking pictures of Derry when he came across this man – a street drinker.
“He was lying completely out of it with cuts all over his face and the thing that annoyed me was the amount of people that just walked passed him without checking to see if he was ok,” said Graham.
“I am glad to say the staff of Damien House are looking after him and getting him cleaned up.”
There has been an incredible online reaction to Graham’s thought-provoking picture (above) – people ashamed and annoyed that this could happen.
The image of this man, set against the peace bridge and the Foyle, gives the issue an incredible perspective.
Mr Warke said the incident came on the same day two young men tried to end their lives on the peace bride and Craigavon Bridge.
He says – like many others in Derry – that we need a coordinated approach to mental health and addiction issues.
“We have a major issue in this city,” said Graham.
“We have so many people suffering from mental health, drug and alcohol problems and they need the support now.
“How many more times do we have to hear about a suicide to get this problem sorted. We need a drugs and alcohol detox unit established in the city as soon as possible.”
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