Rhiannon Auriol Mary Williams · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 7 March 2025 an inquest was heard into the death of Rhiannon Auriol Mary Williams.

The medical cause of death was:
1a Asphyxia
1b Combined Drug Toxicity and Neck Ligature and Submersion

II Selective Serotonin Inhibitors Withdrawal

The conclusion of the inquest was:

Suicide

Rhiannon Auriol Mary Williams was age 24 at the time of her death. Rhiannon was an exceptionally bright, talented and creative person who excelled academically and who was loved and supported by her family. Rhiannon’s mental health deteriorated at a time when she suddenly stopped taking SSRI medication and a result, she experienced withdrawal symptoms which caused anxiety. Rhiannon was also concerned that she may have autism spectrum disorder, and her counsellor documented that she was displaying traits of this disorder. For at least a year prior to her death and possibly longer Rhiannon experienced suicidal thoughts. From May 2023 Rhiannon’s suicidal thoughts and distress worsened although the full extent of Rhiannon’s thoughts and distress was kept hidden from her family. In the months before her death Rhiannon started researching websites relating to suicide and in the month of her death, Rhiannon undertook a Tik Tok search of ‘drowning in the bath’. On 15 September 2023 Rhiannon accessed a website called ████████. This website describes itself as a community that discusses mental illness and suicide from the perspective of suicidal people, as well as the moral implications of the act itself and actively encourages people to commit suicide. It also encourages individuals to hide their thoughts and actions from their loved ones. There is no moderation of this website. Rhiannon used this website to download a detailed document entitled ████████ guide’ which describes in detail how to use these medications to bring about death. There is evidence that Rhiannon used the internet to obtain ████████. There is also evidence that Rhiannon had written down and practised the method that she eventually used on the day of her death – information also likely obtained from the above website / social media. On 16 September 2023 Rhiannon was found ████████ Toxicology findings confirmed the presence of ████████ at an elevated level which would have had a sedatory effect and likely impairment of Rhiannon’s respiration.

Rhiannon accessed an online ‘suicide forum’ where she was able to access information on how to take her own life and where she obtained advice/information on misleading professionals and her family as to her thoughts and intentions. Rhiannon also accessed a social media platform to obtain information about the method Rhiannon used to take her own life. A similar concern was raised by Patricia Harding Senior Coroner for Central and South East Kent in a Prevent Future Death report of 2019 arising a similar concern in respect of ‘suicide forums’. The response from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport of 14 January 2020 referred to The Online Harms White Paper. I am aware of The Online Safety Act 2023 and also BBC reporting -https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-67082224 - touching upon whether this Act is in fact sufficient to deal with the risks posed by ‘suicide websites’. I am concerned about the risk to life posed by the website and social media platform considered in this inquest and so draw them to your attention.