DAD'S AGONY
My daughter, 14, took her own life over ‘bullying’ – then just months later my wife was also dead
Mariano's wife and daughter are now buried side by side
THE GRIEVING dad of a teen who took her own life has told how he also lost his wife just four months later.
Mia Janin, a Year 10 pupil at the Jewish Free School (JFS) in Kenton, north-west London, was found dead at her family home in Barnet on March 12, 2021.
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An inquest into her death this week ruled that she killed herself after having “experienced bullying behaviour from some male students”.
It heard the boys had a Snapchat group where they mocked and posted nude photos of girls at the school.
One of the boys also named her friendship group the "suicide squad" and others kicked footballs at them.
Now her devastated dad Mariano has told of his heartbreak after his wife Marisa - who discovered Mia dead - died of leukaemia just months after the tragedy
They have now been buried side by side in a Jewish cemetry in Israel.
He told the : “My wife went down to the kitchen to prepare Mia's breakfast. I was still waking up when I heard Mia's alarm go off.
“My wife was calling her. Then I heard a very haunting scream from Marisa. It will be with me until I close my eyes.”
Marisa was diagnosed just three months after Mia’s death - but within weeks she suffered a brain anerursym and died.
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Mariano said: “I was less strong than Marisa, but Mia's death killed her.
“Afterwards she never went upstairs again. She'd sleep on the sofa and I'd sit with her until she was asleep and then go up to bed.”
SCHOOL BULLYING
Barnet Coroner's Court was told pupils claim teachers must have been aware of Mia’s bullying but did nothing to stop it.
JFS has denied they knew about the three-year campaign and the difficulties it was causing Mia.
But Mr Janin says he plans to for bullying.
The court was also told there was a Snapchat group named "Panacha" that included more than 60 boys from JFS and possibly other schools.
They used this group to post mocking messages about female pupils and shared photos of their faces superimposed on to nude bodies of porn stars, it was said.
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,
- HUMEN
- Mind, , 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus,, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans,, 116 123
The group was also allegedly used to share nude photos of their classmates, which they pressured girls to send them.
One child described the group as "intimidating" and "disrespectful".
They added: 'I never saw the group chat but did know things would be shared on it because people would talk about what was being shared at school."
The inquest heard on the evening before her death, a TikTok video criticising two of her bullies was shared in the Snapchat group.
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Mia was said to be left feeling increasingly anxious by this and told a friend she was "mentally preparing herself to get bullied" as a result of the video.
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.
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