A mother has made an appeal to fellow parents following the tragic suicide of her 13-year-old daughter. Robyn Lott was provided with a mobile phone for emergencies when she began secondary school. In the lead-up to her passing on July 14th, she shared TikTok videos expressing suicidal thoughts, which her mother, Alison Ward, only discovered posthumously.
Robyn, who seemed happier after a conversation with her mother the night before, was found by her father in her room the next morning at their Sabden residence near Clitheroe. Speaking after an inquest into Robyn’s death at Accrington Town Hall, Alison expressed concerns about children becoming desensitized to suicide and self-harm.
Alison emphasized the need for awareness, reflecting on how youth today face different challenges. Robyn, described as a confident child in primary school who struggled with friendship dynamics in secondary school, had shown traits of autism. Plans for a neurodiversity assessment were in place but tragically never materialized.
Despite finding a supportive group of friends at her new school, Robyn went through a breakup shortly before her death, leading to distress evident in her TikTok videos. The coroner noted concerning content in Robyn’s social media posts and highlighted a conflict with friends preceding her passing.
Robyn’s parents believe she did not fully grasp the consequences of her actions, with her mother highlighting her impulsiveness and emotional turmoil. The coroner, while acknowledging Robyn’s messages about suicide, emphasized her young age and emotional state, delivering a narrative conclusion rather than a ruling of suicide.
Alison fondly remembered her daughter as a compassionate and unique individual, vowing to keep her memory alive. The family’s loss was described as immeasurable, with Robyn’s legacy celebrated as that of a remarkable young woman.