By Emmanuel Dominic 
Deaf TikTok Star Died After Mental Health System ‘Failure’
An inquest has revealed that the tragic death of 25-year-old deaf TikTok influencer Imogen Nunn was the result of significant failures by mental health services. Known online as “Immy,” Nunn had over 780,000 followers and was celebrated for her advocacy on deafness and mental health. She died by suicide on January 1, 2023, after ingesting a poisonous substance she had purchased online.
Nunn had a long history of mental health struggles, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, dating back to her early teens. She had previously been detained under the Mental Health Act and spent nearly four years as an inpatient at Springfield Hospital’s deaf adult ward. Despite her efforts to seek help, including informing her support worker in November 2022 about her suicidal intentions and the purchase of lethal chemicals, she did not receive timely or adequate intervention.
On December 30, 2022, just two days before her death, Nunn was assessed as being at “high risk” of suicide after expressing strong thoughts of killing herself by drinking poison. She agreed to be admitted to a mental health crisis facility, but the admission never occurred, and her care coordinator did not meet with her as planned.
The inquest also highlighted systemic issues, such as the lack of British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters during critical moments, including a welfare check by Sussex Police and even during the inquest proceedings themselves. This lack of communication support hindered Nunn’s ability to access the care she needed and contributed to the failures in her treatment.
Nunn’s family believes her death was avoidable and has called for urgent reforms in mental health services, particularly concerning support for deaf individuals. Her mother, Louise Sutherland, stated that her daughter was “failed” by the very services meant to protect her
The inquest’s findings underscore the critical need for improved mental health support systems that are inclusive and responsive to the needs of the deaf community.
