The sick website that no one can shut down

WARNING: This article contains discussion of suicide please think carefully before continuing to read the story.(L-R) Matthew O’Reilly, Kelly Walsh and Samuel Dickenson (Image: Family handouts)

An online suicide forum linked to dozens of deaths, including at least six in Greater Manchester, is still operating despite multiple warnings.

The site, which the Manchester Evening News is choosing not to name, was strongly criticised by Manchester west coroner Timothy Brennand in a series of recent reports.

Mr Brennand warned more people could die unless action was taken against the forum and the sale of a poison it ‘promoted’ information about.

The warning followed a ‘cluster’ of eight suicides in Bolton, Salford and Wigan involving an unnamed substance.

They included 45-year-old Kelly Walsh, who died after taking the chemical at her home in Atherton, Salford University student Matthew O’Reilly, 18, and Samuel Dickenson, a 33-year-old father of two from Leigh.

Writing to the Home Office, Mr Brennand raised concerns about websites ‘designed to aid, abet, assist or promote suicide methods’.

He said: “The police investigation revealed the ability of members of the public to access a number of websites, primarily created in the USA, Canada and Mexico that promoted information as to how to access: Poisons that could bring about death; How, in what way and with other necessary preparations the poisons should be administered; Sourcing such poisons/chemicals/medications in the UK and abroad.”

Help and support

Samaritans (116 123) samaritans.org operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year. If you prefer to write down how you’re feeling, or if you’re worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans at jo@samaritans.org, write to Freepost SAMARITANS LETTERS (no more information needed) and visit www.samaritans.org/branches to find your nearest branch.

For support for people feeling suicidal, if you are concerned about someone or if you are bereaved by suicide see http://shiningalightonsuicide.org.uk

CALM (0800 58 58 58) thecalmzone.net has a helpline is for men who are down or have hit a wall for any reason, who need to talk or find information and support. They’re open 5pm to midnight, 365 days a year.

Greater Manchester Bereavement Service Greater Manchester Bereavement Service can help to find support for anyone in Greater Manchester that has been bereaved or affected by a death. No one needs to feel alone as they deal with their grief. www.greater-manchester-bereavement-service.org.uk

Childline (0800 1111 ) runs a helpline for children and young people in the UK. Calls are free and the number won’t show up on your phone bill.

PAPYRUS (0800 068 41 41) is a voluntary organisation supporting teenagers and young adults who are feeling suicidal.

Beat Eating Disorders: Beat provides helplines for adults and young people offering support and information about eating disorders. These helplines are free to call from all phones. Adult Helpline: 0808 801 0677, Studentline: 0808 801 0811, Youthline: 0808 801 0711. www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk

Anorexia & Bulimia Care: ABC provide on-going care, emotional support and practical guidance for anyone affected by eating disorders, those struggling personally and parents, families and friends. Helpline: 03000 11 12 13. www.anorexiabulimiacare.org.uk/

Students Against Depression is a website for students who are depressed, have a low mood or are having suicidal thoughts. Bullying UK is a website for both children and adults affected by bullying studentsagainstdepression.org

For information and links to charities and organisations that can help with substance abuse, visit https://www.supportline.org.uk/problems/drugs/

Mr Brennand said in a 12 month period police traced 45 people in the UK and Europe who had died after taking the unnamed substance and another 40 who had bought it intending to take their own lives.

One website, which was linked to at least six of the suicide inquests overseen by Mr Brennand, has been under investigation by media and internet watchdog Ofcom since April. The BBC reports a coroner first warned the government about the forum in December 2019.

Speaking at the inquest of Kelly Walsh, 45, who died after taking the substance at her Atherton home on February 27 2021, Det Insp Andrew Wright described how numerous forum posts contain advice and instructions on how people can acquire the poison for the purposes of suicide.

Despite multiple warnings the US-based site still appears to be open to anyone in the UK with open internet access, including children. Said to be well-known among those struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts, it currently has more than 56,000 members worldwide, while more than 2.8m messages have been posted, many of them disturbingly graphic.

One of the most viewed posts is an account of the suicide of a forum user taking the poison by a friend who witnessed their death. In other posts users tell of their intention to take their own life, as other forum members offer encouragement.

Many other forum users discuss the difficulty of buying the poison in the UK since the police started cracking down on its sale. One user describes the police entering their home and confiscating the chemical.

The forum’s home page also includes a response to the Ofcom investigation, describing it as a ‘clear and unprecedented overreach by a foreign regulator against a U.S.-based platform’. It adds: “We reject this interference and will be defending the site’s existence and mission.”

Ged Flynn, chief executive of national charity Papyrus Prevention of Young Suicide said online dangers such as suicide forums and ‘relentless social media’ were among the ‘overwhelming pressures’ young people are faced with.

He added: “Those who peddle the gratuitous promotion of self-harm and suicide content online must weigh up the consequences before putting their work before the public, particularly young people and those who may be vulnerable.

“We believe many suicides can be prevented and we all have a role to play in making our communities suicide-safer. Young people need to know they are not alone and that professional help and advice is available right now.

“There is nothing better in our darkest hour to have a conversation with a person who can help us to navigate emotional distress and keep us suicide-safe. Our professional advisors are a lifeline to young people, their parents and friends when suicidal thinking becomes a reality.”

An Ofcom spokesperson said: “In March, duties under the Online Safety Act came into force that mean service providers must now take steps to protect their UK users from illegal content and activity – including encouraging or assisting suicide. In April, we launched our first investigation under the Act, which was into the provider of an online suicide forum.

“Due to its nature, we have decided not to name the provider and forum. We made several attempts to engage with this provider in respect of its duties under the Act and issued a legally binding request to tell us what steps are being taken to protect UK users from illegal content.

“Having received a limited response to our request, and unsatisfactory information, we launched an investigation into whether the provider is complying with its legal obligations under the Act. We are currently gathering and analysing evidence to determine whether a contravention has occurred.

“If our assessment indicates a compliance failure, we will issue a provisional notice of contravention to the provider, who can then make representations on our findings, before we make our final decision. We will provide an update on this investigation as soon as possible.

“Where we identify compliance failures, we can require platforms to take specific steps to come into compliance. We can also impose fines of up to £18m or 10% of qualifying worldwide revenue, whichever is greater. Where appropriate, in the most serious cases, we can seek a court order for ‘business disruption measures’, such as requiring payment providers or advertisers to withdraw their services from a platform, or requiring Internet Service Providers to block access to a site in the UK.”

A government spokesperson said: “Our thoughts are with the families and friends of all those who have tragically lost their lives in these incidents. We have received the Future Prevention of Deaths Report from the coroner and we will consider it carefully. The Government keeps dangerous substances under constant review to ensure appropriate regulation and controls are in place.

“We also expect retailers to report any attempted or suspicious transactions of poisons under the Poisons Act, especially where the buyer may intend to cause harm to themselves or others. The Online Safety Act also requires platforms to remove illegal content, including that which encourages people to self-harm or take their own lives.”

Don’t suffer in silence

Samaritans (116 123) samaritans.org operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year. If you prefer to write down how you’re feeling, or if you’re worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans at jo@samaritans.org , write to Freepost RSRB-KKBY-CYJK, PO Box 9090, STIRLING, FK8 2SA and visit www.samaritans.org/branches to find your nearest branch.

For support for people feeling suicidal, if you are concerned about someone or if you are bereaved by suicide see http://shiningalightonsuicide.org.uk

Childline (0800 1111 ) runs a helpline for children and young people in the UK. Calls are free and the number won’t show up on your phone bill.

PAPYRUS (0800 068 41 41) is a voluntary organisation supporting teenagers and young adults who are feeling suicidal.

For information and links to charities and organisations that can help with substance abuse, visit https://www.supportline.org.uk/problems/drugs/

The sick website that no one can shut down

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