Families call for action to tackle suicide sites

Aimee Walton (left) died in 2022 and Vlad (right) died in 2024

Bereaved families whose children and siblings visited an online suicide forum before taking their own life have called for action from the government.

The relatives of Vlad Nikolin-Caisley, 17, and Aimee Walton, 21, both from Southampton, met MPs in Westminster to discuss a report by the Molly Rose Foundation calling for a public inquiry into their deaths.

They are worried not enough has been done to shut down these forums and tighten regulation of a poisonous substance that can still be easily purchased online.

The government said the substance was reportable under the Poisons Act if retailers felt it was being used for harm, and Ofcom said the online forum was blocked to UK internet users.

The government added that it was unable to do much more to tackle this because the site was based in the US.

In 2022, Aimee was found dead in a hotel room in Berkshire after swallowing poison she had bought online and that was recommended in a pro-suicide forum

Her sister Adele said: "It's really supportive to be with other bereaved families but at the same time it's really bittersweet that we have to be there, that we have to be pouring out our trauma and our stories over and over again in the hopes that people will finally listen."

She said after the meeting with politicians she would now like to see "action".

She did not think the fact the forum was based in the US was a "valid excuse".

"We hold giants like Meta to account, TikTok, X, platforms that are so much bigger, have so many more users and who are also based in America," she said.

Adele said she wanted to see "action" after meeting MPs

Adele was joined in London by Mia-Helena, whose brother Vlad died in May 2024 after he had taken poison.

Mia-Helena said she was worried that stories like her brother's would continue to happen if "systematic failures are not addressed".

"My heart goes out to anyone affected by these issues," she said.

She added that she hoped the government would act soon to regulate the poison as this may be "easier" than shutting down the online forum.

Mia-Helena's brother Vlad died after taking poison

Darren Paffey, MP for Southampton Itchen, said he recognised that "not enough is yet happening".

He acknowledged the call for action from the families and said it was something that MPs would have to push for.

He said the government needed to make sure the Online Safety Act "keeps up with how the world is changing".

"We need to make sure that the Poisons Act is dragged into the 21st Century," he said.

He added that there was a need for tougher regulations on the import of poisons and better training for ambulance staff to deal with those who have consumed a substance.

"There is loads we can be getting on with, and I think that might start to alleviate some of the frustration people feel," Mr Paffey said.

If you have been affected by any of the issues in this story you can find information and support on the BBC Actionline website here.