Recurring concern

Inadequate controls on access to online suicide-promoting content

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First reported 20 Nov 2013•Latest report 29 Apr 2026

Definition

What this concern includes

Includes failures of controls specifically intended to prevent, restrict, detect or respond to vulnerable people's access to online suicide-promoting or suicide-facilitating content, including accessible forums, websites, books or social-media material and inadequate platform, regulatory or enforcement arrangements.

Not included

Excludes general harmful online content where suicide promotion or facilitation is not the identified hazard.
Excludes mental-health treatment, crisis-support or safety-netting deficiencies that do not concern access to online suicide-promoting content.
Excludes ordinary online availability or neutral discussion of suicide where no promotion, instruction, facilitation or safety-control failure is identified.
Excludes harmful-content amplification concerns where the asserted unsafe condition is broader platform recommendation or dissemination and is not specifically tied to suicide-promoting content.

Reports: 24
Individual concerns: 32
Date range: 2013–2026
Stated actions: 43

Reports over time

Reports about this concern issued each year.

* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.

Most frequent recipients

Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.

Home Office10

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology5

Department of Health and Social Care5

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport4

Ofcom4

Amazon UK Services Ltd.2

Google UK Limited2

National Crime Agency2

British Transport Police1

Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (2017 to 2023)1

National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Safety in Mental Health1

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence1

National Police Chiefs’ Council1

NHS England1

Recipient name withheld1

Concerns and responses across reports

Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.

26 Nov2020
Cumbria
Concerns raised1
1. Online promotion and encouragement of suicide methods
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response 2
1. Action
  Implement the Cross-Government Suicide Prevention Workplan, including measures to reduce access to suicide means through harmful online content.
  Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated in progress
2. Action
  Ask the Law Commission to examine how criminal law addresses encouragement, assistance and incitement of self-harm.
  Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated completed
Respondent positions 1
1. Position
  Online-harm concerns fall within the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’s policy remit.
  Stated by Department of Health and Social CareRedirects responsibility
AI-generated summary

Lee Elliott · Prevention of Future Deaths report

This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

Report summary

Lee Elliott had experienced mental health difficulties and was found deceased in his bedroom on 6 February 2020. The inquest recorded that he had purchased a chemical from an internet supplier and ingested it, causing his death. The principal concerns were the online promotion of the substance as a suicide method and its easy, inexpensive purchase without safeguards.

Read the report on judiciary.uk
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Online promotion and encouragement of suicide methods
Wider context from the report
“(1) ████████ is being advocated by several websites easily found on the internet as a reliable and pain free way of taking one’s life. Often advice is given on the use of prescription medications to take to minimise any nausea caused when a solution of this substance is drunk. Links can be found to discussion groups which may encourage vulnerable and sick people to attempt to take their lives. ”
Source location
Lee Elliott · Prevention of Future Deaths report
Page 2 · concerns
Open source report
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Implement the Cross-Government Suicide Prevention Workplan, including measures to reduce access to suicide means through harmful online content.

Verbatim wording from the response
“We continue to take action to reduce suicide rates through the Suicide Prevention Strategy for England¹ and the first Cross-Government Suicide Prevention Workplan², which sets out an ambitious programme across national and local government and the NHS. The Workplan includes actions to reduce access to the means of suicide, including through harmful online content.”

Source location
2020-0265-Response-from-Dept-of-Health-and-Social-Care-Redacted.pdf
Page 1 · response
Published 4 January 2021
Open published response
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Ask the Law Commission to examine how criminal law addresses encouragement, assistance and incitement of self-harm.

Verbatim wording from the response
“On 15 December 2020, DCMS published its response to the White Paper consultation, setting out how the proposed legal duty of care on online companies will work in practice and gives them new responsibilities towards their users. DCMS also announced that the Government has asked the Law Commission to examine how criminal law will address the encouragement, assistance and incitement of self-harm.”

Source location
2020-0265-Response-from-Dept-of-Health-and-Social-Care-Redacted.pdf
Page 2 · response
Published 4 January 2021
Open published response
Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Online-harm concerns fall within the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’s policy remit.

Verbatim wording from the response
“The concerns that Mr Elliott’s death raises sit within the policy remits of a range of Government departments, including the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sports (DCMS) for its work on online harms; and the Home Office (HO) for its work on the sale of reportable substances³. Officials have shared your concerns with those Departments and are working with officials from those and other Government departments to explore what further steps we can take to prevent further tragedies, both for this chemical, and any other emerging methods.”

Source location
2020-0265-Response-from-Dept-of-Health-and-Social-Care-Redacted.pdf
Page 2 · response
Published 4 January 2021
Open published response
3 Dec2019
Central and South East Kent
Concerns raised2
1. Availability of online forum advice on misleading mental health professionals to avoid mental health detention
2. Availability of online forum advice on methods of taking one's life
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response 2
1. Action
  Develop legislation establishing a duty of care requiring online services to protect users from harmful content and activity.
  Stated by Department for Digital, Culture, Media and SportStated planned
2. Action
  Establish an independent regulator to oversee online services’ compliance with the duty of care and enforce safety requirements.
  Stated by Department for Digital, Culture, Media and SportStated planned
Respondent positions 2
1. Position
  The Secretary of State lacks the power to prevent harmful websites from operating.
  Stated by Department for Digital, Culture, Media and SportUnable to act
1. Position
  The new regulator will be responsible for producing codes of practice on online suicide and self-harm content.
  Stated by Department for Digital, Culture, Media and SportRedirects responsibility
AI-generated summary

Callie Lewis · Prevention of Future Deaths report

This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

Report summary

Callie Lewis had chronic suicidal ideation and was actively planning to end her life, later dying by carbon monoxide poisoning after travelling to a remote location. The inquest concluded that her death was suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning contributed to by neglect. A substantive concern was that an online pro-suicide forum provided advice on methods of suicide and on misleading mental health professionals, frustrating assessment and enabling her to take her life.

Read the report on judiciary.uk
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Availability of online forum advice on misleading mental health professionals to avoid mental health detention
Wider context from the report
“(1) Callie was using an online suicide forum, ████████ (the forum now appears under the internet address ████████.Through the forum she was able to engage in discussions with other pro-suicide members and obtain advice how to mislead mental health professionals to avoid being sectioned under the Mental Health Act and also how to perfect the methods of taking her life that she had been considering. She was enabled by the advice provided through the forum to frustrate a mental health assessment and thereafter take her life ”
Source location
Callie Lewis · Prevention of Future Deaths report
Page 2 · concerns
Open source report
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Availability of online forum advice on methods of taking one's life
Wider context from the report
“(1) Callie was using an online suicide forum, ████████ (the forum now appears under the internet address ████████.Through the forum she was able to engage in discussions with other pro-suicide members and obtain advice how to mislead mental health professionals to avoid being sectioned under the Mental Health Act and also how to perfect the methods of taking her life that she had been considering. She was enabled by the advice provided through the forum to frustrate a mental health assessment and thereafter take her life ”
Source location
Callie Lewis · Prevention of Future Deaths report
Page 2 · concerns
Open source report
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Develop legislation establishing a duty of care requiring online services to protect users from harmful content and activity.

Verbatim wording from the response
“The Online Harms White Paper, published in April 2019, set out the government's plans for world-leading legislation to make the UK the safest place in the world to be online. This will make companies more responsible for their users' safety online, especially children and other vulnerable groups. While some companies have taken steps to address harmful content on their platforms, including to reduce the risk posed by suicide and self-harm related content, these voluntary measures have not delivered the necessary improvements. Under our proposed approach, a new duty of care will make companies take more responsibility for the safety of their users, and tackle harm caused by content or activity on their services. Compliance with this duty of care will be overseen by an independent regulator.”

Source location
2019-0414-Response-from-DCMS
Page 1 · response
Published 29 December 2019
Open published response
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Establish an independent regulator to oversee online services’ compliance with the duty of care and enforce safety requirements.

Verbatim wording from the response
“The Online Harms White Paper, published in April 2019, set out the government's plans for world-leading legislation to make the UK the safest place in the world to be online. This will make companies more responsible for their users' safety online, especially children and other vulnerable groups. While some companies have taken steps to address harmful content on their platforms, including to reduce the risk posed by suicide and self-harm related content, these voluntary measures have not delivered the necessary improvements. Under our proposed approach, a new duty of care will make companies take more responsibility for the safety of their users, and tackle harm caused by content or activity on their services. Compliance with this duty of care will be overseen by an independent regulator.”

Source location
2019-0414-Response-from-DCMS
Page 1 · response
Published 29 December 2019
Open published response
Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
The Secretary of State lacks the power to prevent harmful websites from operating.

Verbatim wording from the response
“The government expects companies to take action now to tackle harmful content or activity on their services. Indeed, there are already some existing arrangements between individual companies and charities to improve the identification and removal of this content when it is reported, and services that signpost help and supportive content to their users. As Secretary of State I do not, however, have the power to prevent the operation of harmful websites.”

Source location
2019-0414-Response-from-DCMS
Page 2 · response
Published 29 December 2019
Open published response
Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
The new regulator will be responsible for producing codes of practice on online suicide and self-harm content.

Verbatim wording from the response
“Some of the areas the regulator could include in a code of practice include setting out the steps a company might take to ensure that users who have been exposed to this content are able to access adequate support; ensuring that companies work with experts in suicide prevention so that their policies and practices protect the most vulnerable; and processes to stop algorithms promoting self-harm or suicide content to users. It will be for the new regulator to produce codes of practice when it becomes operational.”

Source location
2019-0414-Response-from-DCMS
Page 2 · response
Published 29 December 2019
Open published response
9 Jul2014
Birmingham and Solihull
Concerns raised1
1. Immediate and accessible online guidance on suicide by helium inhalation
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Respondent positions 1
1. Position
  The earlier departmental response remains pertinent and is considered to fully address the concerns regarding helium gas and suicide.
  Stated by Department of Health and Social CareExisting arrangements considered sufficient
AI-generated summary

David Reginald Giles · Prevention of Future Deaths report

This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

Report summary

David Reginald Giles was discovered at home on 31 March 2014 with a plastic bag over his head connected to a helium gas canister, and paramedics confirmed his death that morning. The concerns included the unrestricted availability and standard size of helium canisters, the absence of modified control valves, and readily accessible online information about suicide by helium inhalation. The report also noted an increase in deaths mentioning helium in England between 2008 and 2012.

Read the report on judiciary.uk
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Immediate and accessible online guidance on suicide by helium inhalation
Wider context from the report
“(4) The type of immediate and easily accessible information through internet search engines which provides clear and detailed guidance on how to commit suicide by inhalation of helium gas. ”
Source location
David Reginald Giles · Prevention of Future Deaths report
Page 2 · concerns
Open source report
Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
The earlier departmental response remains pertinent and is considered to fully address the concerns regarding helium gas and suicide.

Verbatim wording from the response
“The information we provided in our response to the Matthew Satterthwaite Regulation 28 report is still pertinent. I have therefore enclosed a copy of our earlier reply to the Manchester Coroner, Nigel Meadows, and trust that this fully addresses the concerns you raise in your Regulation 28 report regarding the death of David Giles.”

Source location
2014-0321-Response-by-Department-of-Health
Page 2 · response
Published 9 July 2014
Open published response
20 Nov2013
West Yorkshire (Western)
Concerns raised1
1. Internet advertisements and links enabling purchase of products to commit suicide
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.

No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
AI-generated summary

LUKE JACOB GOODWIN · Prevention of Future Deaths report

This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

Report summary

Luke Goodwin, a 21-year-old university student, was found dead at home on 18 January 2013 after inhaling helium using a plastic bag, tubing and a helium canister. The report raised concerns about the ready availability and design of helium canisters, and about clear, detailed online information and links facilitating suicide methods and purchases.

Read the report on judiciary.uk
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Internet advertisements and links enabling purchase of products to commit suicide
Wider context from the report
“(4) The type of information which is readily available on the internet. Such information provides clear and detailed guidance on how to commit suicide. Internet sites also provide advertisements and links to enable the viewer to order and purchase appropriate products to commit suicide. Two sites in particular, ████████ and ████████ appear to provide clear and comprehensive details. ”
Source location
LUKE JACOB GOODWIN · Prevention of Future Deaths report
Page 2 · concerns
Open source report

Data last updated 7 September 2026

What this concern includes

Not included

Reports over time

Concerns raised1

Online promotion and encouragement of suicide methods

Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2

Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1

Concerns raised2

Availability of online forum advice on misleading mental health professionals to avoid mental health detention

Availability of online forum advice on methods of taking one's life

Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2

Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2

Concerns raised1

Immediate and accessible online guidance on suicide by helium inhalation

Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1

Concerns raised1

Internet advertisements and links enabling purchase of products to commit suicide

Actions described in response 2

Respondent positions 1

Actions described in response 2

Respondent positions 2

Respondent positions 1