Coroner Finds Mental Health Service Failures in Death of Deaf TikTok Star

The inquest into the death of deaf TikTok star Imogen Nunn, who died by ingesting a poisonous substance in Brighton on New Year's Day 2023, revealed significant failures by mental health services to manage her risk. Despite Nunn's repeated pleas for help and disclosure of purchasing chemicals for suicide, proper safeguarding measures, care plan reviews, and face-to-face risk assessments were not implemented. Senior Coroner Penelope Schofield highlighted systemic challenges in mental health care for deaf patients, specifically the national shortage of British Sign Language interpreters, which impeded effective communication and contributed to Nunn's unmet needs. Nunn's family described her as a loving individual who used her social media platform to raise awareness about hearing and mental health issues, expressing that her death was avoidable had appropriate interventions been made. The coroner plans to address these systemic issues with the government to prevent similar tragedies. The case underscores the critical need for improved mental health support and accessibility for deaf individuals.