A US-based internet forum, repeatedly criticised for its links to suicide deaths in the UK, continues to operate openly despite interventions from law enforcement officials and a coroner in Greater Manchester. Fresh concerns are being raised as a growing number of deaths – including a recent cluster of eight in Greater Manchester – have been associated with content shared on the platform.
The senior coroner for Manchester West, Timothy Brennand, has issued stern warnings regarding the site, which is alleged to instruct vulnerable users on how to access and use dangerous substances. The forum, reportedly still accessible in the UK, has already featured in evidence at multiple inquests, some involving individuals as young as 18.
Families across Greater Manchester and beyond are grappling with grief after learning their loved ones’ deaths were linked to material found on the site. Tragic cases include Kelly Walsh, 45, university student Matthew O’Reilly, 18, and Samuel Dickenson, 33, a father of two. The inquests into these deaths highlighted the role the website played, with evidence suggesting it both facilitated access to harmful substances and fostered an environment where suicidal ideation was encouraged.
Coroner Brennand has formally approached the Home Office, stressing that action must be taken to prevent further tragedies. Police investigations have found that such forums – many hosted outside the UK – provide precise information about suicide methods and the procurement of dangerous materials. Between 2022 and 2023, authorities across the UK and Europe linked 45 deaths to a specific suicide method discussed on the forum. Additionally, 40 more cases were identified where individuals had bought lethal substances, seemingly with intent to harm themselves.
Discussing the Walsh case, Detective Inspector Andrew Wright described a trend of users actively sharing instructions and supporting one another’s fatal intentions within the forum. “Many posts describe methods in disturbing detail and even offer guidance for acquisition,” Wright explained at the inquest.
The scale of the website’s reach is significant, with more than 56,000 registered members and upwards of 2.8 million posts. Amongst these are numerous accounts of suicide attempts and deaths, frequently described with distressing specificity. Despite growing scrutiny, the site has not been blocked and remains accessible to people of all ages in the UK.
On its home page, the forum’s administrators openly defy UK authorities and Ofcom, the nation’s communications regulator, which began a formal investigation in April under the new Online Safety Act. The site, which has declined to comply voluntarily, accused Ofcom of “unprecedented overreach by a foreign regulator against a US-based platform,” and insists it will resist such interference.
Experts in suicide prevention are alarmed, citing the unique dangers posed to young people and others already struggling with mental health. Ged Flynn, chief executive of Papyrus, a prominent UK charity dedicated to preventing youth suicide, underlined the risks: “The promotion of self-harm and suicide online carries enormous consequences, especially for the vulnerable. Everyone has a responsibility to make their communities suicide-safer, and it’s essential for people in distress to know help is available.” Flynn encouraged anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts to reach out to support lines or professionals, describing those services as “a lifeline” in moments of crisis.
Ofcom, empowered by the new legislation, has made repeated attempts to engage the website’s operators and now has the authority to impose fines of up to £18 million or 10% of the site’s global revenue if violations are confirmed. In extreme circumstances, the regulator may request that payment providers and internet companies block access to sites that breach the law. Early statements from Ofcom suggest the site’s cooperation has so far been limited. Investigators are now studying evidence to determine the forum’s compliance with legal obligations designed to protect UK users from harmful and illegal content.
A government spokesperson responded to the situation by extending sympathies to bereaved families and stating the government was evaluating the coroner’s latest prevention of future deaths report. The spokesperson reaffirmed the commitment to keeping dangerous substances under review and reminded retailers of their duty to report suspicious transactions under the Poisons Act.
Campaigners and bereaved families continue to call for more decisive action to combat harmful online content, hoping that tough new measures under the Online Safety Act will finally result in effective regulation or closure of websites linked to these tragic deaths. For those in need of support, mental health services remain available via Mind Cymru, the Samaritans, and the NHS 111 service, offering confidential assistance at any hour.