A grieving father whose son died by suicide has shared a warning to parents about the dangers of the internet.
Brett Allred, 50, searched through Riley’s phone after his death in February, hoping to find the happiest memories of his son, but what he saw made him “throw up”.
Riley, 23, had screenshots of a website showing step-by-step instructions on suicide methods “as specific as a soufflé recipe.”
Allred has shared her story in the hope that parents will be more vigilant in monitoring their children’s web activities to be on the lookout if they come across a site that facilitates suicide like her son did.
A grieving father whose son died by suicide has shared a warning to parents about the dangers of the internet. Brett Allred, 50, searched through Riley’s phone after his passing in February, hoping to find his son’s happiest memories, but what he saw made him “throw up”.
Riley, born in Oklahoma, was known as a protector among his friends, defending them and offering help when needed.
He attended Oklahoma State University and the University of Arizona with the desire to study cybersecurity and was known by his parents for being funny, caring and always wearing a hoodie.
Riley took her own life on February 23.
Allred told USA Today that screenshots on Riley’s phone were nearly identical to how she committed suicide.
“If I hadn’t seen this, I would be alive today,” Allred said. “I wouldn’t have done it unless I knew it would guarantee success.”
Allred has lived with immense guilt since Riley’s death, blaming herself for not checking her son’s phone.
Riley’s obituary says she “had everything to live for, but struggled with depression and had to cope with life’s difficulties.”
Allred said Riley lived at one of her homes in Oklahoma but began neglecting his chores and isolated himself from his friends.
“It’s really quite strange, because even though I’ve noticed these behaviors, it just doesn’t come to mind like, ‘Oh, my son is suicidal,'” Allred told USA Today.
Riley, 23, had screenshots of a website showing step-by-step instructions on suicide methods “as specific as a soufflé recipe.”
Allred said screenshots on Riley’s phone were almost identical to how she committed suicide.
The father gave his son an ultimatum: either keep the house or move out.
Riley decided to move in with her mother and stepfather, who were not identified, and then took her own life.
“My worst fear came true,” Allred said.
‘My ex-wife, his mother, did everything I did. She tried to get him help. Tough love, easy love too. We tried to be soft with him, then we tried to be firm with him.
“Nothing seemed to work. I got him professional help. Nothing seemed to work.”
He’s not sure when or how Riley found the website, but sites like it litter the Internet.
A 2020 study by the University of Copenhagen in Denmark found that 136 English-language websites provided instructions for taking one’s own life.
The New York Times published an investigation that found that one specific site, which the publication did not disclose, attracts six million hits a month — four times more than the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
A report released last week found that the United States has the sixth-highest suicide rate in the world.
At least 45 suicide deaths in several countries were linked to the site; most of the individuals were 30 years old or younger.
A report released last week found that the United States has the sixth-highest suicide rate in the world.
A global ranking by international prescription service Universal Drugstore found that South Korea had the highest suicide rate for men and women, while Croatia and Australia ranked 10th.
Suicide has become the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. Rates rose 16 percent between 2011 and 2022, with the highest rate yet recorded in 2022 with a record 49,369 suicide deaths.
Although many may think this form of death is more common among adults, a study published July 30 found that rates among elementary school-aged children have nearly doubled over the past 20 years.
Researchers examined death records for U.S. preteens ages 8 to 12 from January 1, 2001, to December 31, 2022.
They found that the rate rose from about 3.3 per million deaths in 2001 to more than nine per million in 2021, an increase of more than 170 percent.
Research indicates that a prolonged and worsening mental health crisis among young people is leading to a rise in suicides. The crisis has led to record rates of hopelessness, depression and anxiety.
