28 January 2024 , 13:29
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The mother of a 14-year-old girl who took her own life after she was relentlessly bullied died of a "broken heart" herself just months later.
Mia Janin, who sent a heartbreaking voice message to her friend before she ended her life, had been bullied at school and online for some time. Four months after her daughter's tragic death, Mia's mother, Marisa, also passed away after a brain aneurysm led to the discovery of acute myeloid leukaemia - which was deemed untreatable.
Her devastated husband Mariano believed the real reason for his wife's death was the stress of losing their daughter. Speaking after Mia's inquest, which concluded this week at Barnet Coroner's Court in north London, Mariano said: "Nothing will bring back my wife and my daughter. My daughter experienced prolonged and sustained bullying in person and online. In a way, it is a relief this has now been recognised, however there needs to be accountability. Another family cannot live the way I have lived."
Mia was degraded in a boys-only Snapchat group when she was bullied. Her inquest heard she was found dead at her family home in Barnet in March 2021. Marisa passed away in August of the same year.
Mia was a keen cheerleader, and a devoted reader, her family said (PA)Following this tragedy, Mariano wrote to his wife on Facebook: "My beloved Marisa. Thank you for all of our years together. I feel really blessed and honoured to have been your husband. I hope you are finally with Mia once again, able to find some closure and are manage to rest in peace. We will meet again. I will forever love you. Mariano."
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Since, the father has spoken of the grief his family endured. After the inquest, he added: "I will try to carry on. I will try to help some people who are trying to change the law in order to protect our kids. I think we need to do a lot of things... I think we need to put some limits on kids' access to the internet and how we can recollect the data if something like this happens again. We have a big challenge ahead."
Mariano, Mia's dad, spoke to reporters after the inquest in London (PA)His daughter was part of the 60 boy-strong Snapchat group, in which she was ridiculed. On the night before her death, Mia had asked her parents if she could be home-schooled for the rest of the year, having only been back at the state school for just one day since the lockdown restriction were lifted. Although her parents had agreed to move her, Mariano later said he did not realise how bad it had become for his only child.
She became the third pupil from her school to have died by suspected suicide since 2017. When her body was found, police discovered two handwritten notes, one addressed to her parents, and another to her best friend. In the note to her family she wrote: "I just wanted to let you know I do love you guys very much. I have been brought up well by both of you. I have learned many things, I love all of you very much. However I know this decision is the right one for me. On earth I never felt connected. I felt a longing to leave for a while. I know this is a shock to you."
If you're struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email [email protected] or visit their site to find your local branch.