Leeds family 'fighting for justice' for son who took his own life after accessing suicide forums
Joe Nihill took his own life after accessing suicide websites
The family of 23-year-old Joe Nihill are calling for tighter restrictions online after he accessed websites which encouraged suicide.
He died on April 4 and had been in and out of hospital struggling with his mental health for months.
But despite getting help, he found himself on websites discussing methods to take your own life.
His mum Catherine said: "He was the life and soul of the party, always happy and joking around.
"But he had a bit of a tough time. Both his grandparents died and then his dad in 2018. He had dips, but he was never suicidal until January this year."
It was then that Joe started receiving medical help. Melanie Saville, Joe's sister-in-law said they did everything they could to help Joe and he was responding to treatment.
"He was the life and soul of the party"
But it was during that time when Joe came across suicide forums. Melanie said: "They encourage people to take their own life. They tell people how to do it and almost egg them on.
"It's heart-wrenching. To know that Joe was on there discussing how he was feeling...and the people on there aren't saying 'why don't you seek some help, why don't you contact helplines or speak to someone?'
"Instead they wish them well. It's horrendous."
She said: "If he hadn't come across all that, there's a chance he'd still be here and we'd be fighting with the hospital and he's be fighting as well."
WHERE TO GET HELP IF YOU'RE STRUGGLING:
You don't have to suffer in silence if you're struggling with your mental health. Here are some groups you can contact when you need help.
Samaritans: Phone 116 123, 24 hours a day, or email jo@samaritans.org__, in confidence
Childline: Phone 0800 1111. Calls are free and won't show up on your bill
After finding Joe's posts on the website after his death, Melanie and Catherine decided something good had to come of this.
They've now launched a petition aiming to prevent these forums being so accessible by vulnerable people.
They said these forums shouldn't be so easy to find and if people are searching for them, helplines should come up instead.
Catherine said: "He asked us to carry on fighting for him. He said please close the website down to stop other people from using it.
"Even in his last thoughts he was still caring about other people. That's what's pushed us to do this.
"I wouldn't want any other mother to feel what I'm feeling right now."
"Even in his last thoughts he was still caring for other people"
Ultimately the family are now aiming for enough signatures to take their fight to government.
Melanie said: "He'd love that we're fighting for him. And that hopefully we're stopping someone else from taking their life."