A councillor says red cards should be used in meetings to signal mental health issues after a colleague's fiery speech caused him to have what he described as a "psychiatric emergency".
Joe Barrett, 25, says he was forced to leave a recent Wymondham Town Council meeting after a fellow councillor announced his resignation with stinging criticisms of other members.
Tony Holden's valedictory speech was cut short after one of his targets - chairwoman Suzanne Nuri-Nixon - said she would be forced to suspend the meeting if he continued. He walked out shortly afterwards, amid briefly chaotic scenes.
Mr Holden's comments were not directed at Mr Barrett but he said the incident had caused him to have a "serious dissociative episode".
He is now calling for the introduction of a system for councillors to be given red cards which they can hold up if they need to leave a meeting for mental health reasons.
"Some may call me a snowflake but these things are important for disabled people to be able to participate in democracy," he said.
WHAT HAPPENED AT THE LAST MEETING?
At the council's February meeting, Mr Holden rose to give a speech announcing his retirement after nearly a decade of public service.
He said: "For nine years I have been a member of this council and although I have not seen eye to eye with fellow councillors I think I have served the people of Wymondham with energy, enthusiasm and to the best of my ability.
"But I am also saddened, saddened to see this administration allow itself to be so willingly led by the clerk. You have achieved nothing."
He was interrupted by Ms Nuri-Nixon within 45 seconds of starting his speech and the meeting broke up for about one minute while he walked out. It then resumed.
Mr Holden became the sole Conservative party member on the council after a dramatic political shift at last May's elections which put the Liberal Democrats in overall control.
His resignation speech and disagreement with the clerk are understood to centre around decisions on how the council spends its money.
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WHAT DOES MR BARRETT SAY?
Mr Barrett, who has been on the council since May last year, said the unexpected criticisms from Mr Holden had been "catastrophic" for him.
He added: "After experiencing councillor Holden's behaviour I suffered from a serious dissociative flashback which necessitated me to temporarily withdraw from the meeting.
"This was a psychiatric emergency and is the reality facing disabled people when their health condition is aggravated by the improper actions of others.
"He didn't do anything directly to me, but his behaviour broke our agreement as a council by making this attack. That conflict was the cause."
Mr Barrett, who says he has suffered from PTSD since he was a teenager, is advocating for measures to preserve what he calls "psychological safety" at council meetings, including the introduction of red cards.
He wants councillors suffering mental health crises during meetings to be directed to a side room, where advice on "grounding techniques" - such as breathing exercises - could be provided.
Mr Barrett added: "I will say that despite what happened at the meeting, I hold no ill will towards Mr Holden and wish him all the best - he has been through a lot in the past year and I hope he finds his peace."
'I DON'T FULLY UNDERSTAND WHY IT CAUSED DISTRESS'
Mr Barrett has been supported by chairwoman Suzanne Nuri-Nixon, who said: "I applaud Mr Barrett for being so honest and have the utmost respect for him.
"Going forward, I will be a lot more aware and pause the meeting if someone needs to leave. The beauty of a diverse council is that it makes us think about what we can do differently."
Mr Holden said: "If I caused Mr Barrett any distress, it was not my intention. I don't fully understand why it caused this distress as my comments were not directed at him.
"But I do sympathise with him and extend my apologies."
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