Girl found hanged in park was bullied before death, mother claims

A thirteen-year-old girl was tragically found hanged in a park where she used to build dens with her brother after viewing social media sites which ‘trivialised' suicide, her mother has claimed.

Alyssa Morris was found in Brungerley Park in Clitheroe, Lancashire five days short of her 14th birthday after mental health struggles and ‘social anxieties', an inquest heard.

According to her mother she had been bullied relentlessly at school, including being beaten up as well as being targeted online.

She is now urging parents to beware the potential harms from social media and online bullying, warning that children are ‘consumed by phones and social media'.

Life-saving procedures were attempted but Alyssa was pronounced dead later that day, February 12.

13-year-old Alyssa had reportedly discussed ending her life in the months before her death

Alyssa was described as 'funny, beautiful, very clever' and planned to work with animals

Coroner Richard Taylor told the hearing that a note from Alyssa 'doesn't give any explanation' for her actions, and recorded a conclusion of suicide.

But afterwards her mother, Kathleen Firth said she was convinced that Alyssa had taken her life because of 'a combination of three things: bullying, social media and Covid'.

'They created a perfect storm of circumstances that my little girl just couldn't overcome,' she added.

She alleged that bullies beat Alyssa up at a bus stop but that police failed to take a statement, forcing Ms Firth to turn detective and seek CCTV footage herself.

And she hit out at social media platforms, claiming the use of the term 'unalive' instead of 'suicide' had the effect of 'trivialising' death for vulnerable young users.

Described as 'funny, beautiful, very clever', Alyssa loved musicals - especially Hamilton - and loved drawing, and she had ambitions to work with animals and the RSPCA.

According to her mother, penipu she had no problems at primary school, but struggled after starting secondary school in 2020 - partly due to Covid requirements which saw pupils taught in 'bubbles'.

The hearing in Accrington was told that Alyssa began displaying 'social anxieties' and had self-harmed by cutting her arms.

Her mother suspected she was autistic, the hearing was told, although it was never formally diagnosed, and Alyssa became 'upset' when she sought medical help.