When a person who bravely used her platform to spotlight mental health struggles ends up succumbing to those very struggles, it¡¯s a harsh and heartbreaking irony. Imogen ¡°Immy¡± Nunn, a beloved TikTok influencer known for her candid discussions about mental health and her experience as a member of the Deaf community, tragically passed away on New Year's Day 2023. Her family now believes that her death was not just a tragic accident but a preventable failure by the very system meant to protect her.
At just 25, Immy had amassed nearly 780,000 followers on TikTok. Her videos¡ªraw, honest, and relatable¡ªgave a voice to those who felt unheard. Yet, as revealed in an ongoing inquest at the West Sussex Coroner¡¯s Court, it seems that the voice Immy lent to others was met with silence when she needed help the most.
Her struggle with mental health began at just 14, a turbulent journey that saw her seeking support from various institutions. From 2021 until her untimely death, Immy was under the care of Venture People, the South West London and St George's Mental Health Trust, and Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. Her parents, Louise Sutherland and Ray Nunn, painfully shared that despite Immy's consistent attempts to reach out for help, her cries for support were inadequately addressed.
As her mental health deteriorated in mid-2022, Immy made a life-altering purchase online¡ªa poisonous substance that would eventually claim her life. In November 2022, her father urgently reached out to Carmen Jones, Immy's allocated worker from the Deaf Adult Community Team (Dact), expressing his fear for his daughter¡¯s life. Sussex Police conducted a welfare check, but shockingly, no British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter was present, leaving Immy unable to fully communicate her state of mind.
A text message Immy sent to her care coordinator, Ray McCullagh, weeks before her death revealed her desperate plea: "I cannot look after myself anymore. I can easily go into the last resort, and I don't want to." Yet, it seems her plea fell through the cracks.
Her mother, Louise, remains devastated, believing her daughter¡¯s death was an avoidable tragedy. She expressed that had her daughter¡¯s repeated cries for help been answered effectively, Immy would still be here today.
Consultant psychiatrist Dr. Omar Nasiruddin admitted to the court that Immy's case had been a complex challenge. He shared that the team frequently questioned what was and wasn't working, acknowledging the high and constant level of risk she presented. However, these questions remain unanswered, leaving a family grappling with the heartbreaking "what-ifs."
As the inquest continues, Immy¡¯s family and followers hope that her story will serve as a wake-up call¡ªa harsh reminder that the systems in place to protect the most vulnerable must not fail them. Immy¡¯s voice, once a source of comfort and understanding for so many, has now become a rallying cry for change.