Girl, 14, viewed content ‘too disturbing for even an adult’ on social media in the weeks before taking her own life
SOCIAL media content viewed by a teenager in the weeks before she took her own life is too disturbing for even an adult to look at, a coroner’s court has heard.
A pre-inquest review into the death of Molly Russell, 14, heard a huge volume of “pretty dreadful” Instagram posts have been given to the investigation by owner Facebook.
But some of the material had been redacted.
The teenager, from Harrow, north-west London, viewed content linked to anxiety, depression, self-harm and suicide before ending her life in November 2017.
The inquest in Barnet will look at how the algorithms used by social media giants to keep users hooked may have contributed to her death.#
Molly's father Ian was seated in court.
Since his daughter's death, Mr Russell has been a vocal campaigner for reform of social media platforms and set up the Molly Rose Foundation in her memory.
In a report by the Royal College of Psychiatrists published in January, he said: "Among the usual school friends, pop groups and celebrities followed by 14-year-olds, we found bleak depressive material, graphic self-harm content and suicide encouraging memes.
"I have no doubt that social media helped kill my daughter."
YOU'RE NOT ALONE
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
It doesn't discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society - from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It's the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it's rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You're Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let's all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others... You're Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, , 0800 585 858
- Heads Together,
- Mind, , 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus,, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans, , 116 123
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