A Tooting psychiatrist has returned home after a gruelling six months working with earthquake victims in Haiti.

Peter Hughes, who is part of Balham and Tooting Community Mental Health Team, raised £7,000 for mental health medications to take with him.

Many of those traumatised by the earthquake were suffering from anxiety and fear, with some even going mute since the disaster.

The mayhem and misery of the aftermath of the earthquake meant he also saw a lot of victims of violence and rape.

Rather than just treat people, Mr Hughes trained local primary care nurses and doctors in mental health care.

He said: “The experience has brought home to me the importance of families and carers and education in dealing with mental health problems.

“I can’t deny I’m glad to be home. I found the work exhausting and frustrating and often I felt like I had reached breaking point myself.

“But I like to think that we have had a positive effect.”