Books on suicide sold on Amazon amid serious concerns

A recent coroner’s report has highlighted a disturbing case involving the sale of disturbing and potentially dangerous books on Amazon UK. 

Amazon has said that it may sell books that “some may find objectionable”.

Warning: Contains distressing content

The report, issued by the coroner David Ridley, details the death of 61-year-old Deborah Jane Cooper, who died by suicide. This incident has sparked significant concern regarding the type of content freely available for purchase, particularly on prominent platforms like Amazon.

Cooper, a resident of Melksham, was found deceased in her home on February 21, 2024. The coroner’s investigation uncovered that she had purchased material from the online retailer. The book, which remains unnamed due to legal sensitivities, reportedly provided instructions intended to end one’s life.

Upon further investigation, the coroner discovered that this publication was not only available on its algorithm but prominently listed on Amazon’s UK website. However, a banner appears with the Samaritans’ helpline when searching for anything related to the subject. Shockingly, a similar book with comparable content was also being marketed, suggesting a potentially wider issue of its accessibility through Amazon.

Prevention of Future Death report: Amazon scrutinised over suicide books

The coroner raised issues about the implications of such content: “I am concerned that the marketing and supply of such a book giving such clear instructions […] is of the utmost concern as is the regulation as regards the supply of such publications whose sole purpose is to provide information to those contemplating on ending their lives.”

The law requires that a coroner who identifies potential risks of future deaths must report these concerns to relevant authorities and entities involved, which in this case includes Amazon UK and the Department for Business and Trade. The aim is to prompt these bodies to consider how such dangerous publications can be controlled or removed to prevent further tragedies.

Amazon and the implicated government departments were required to respond to the coroner’s concerns within 56 days from the date of the report on April 29, 2024, outlining actions taken or explaining why no action was proposed.

In a disturbing turn of events, Mary Jones was also found dead at her home address on November 7, 2023. The 86-year-old had reportedly consulted a similar book from Amazon. Assistant coroner Elizabeth Wheeler stated “I am concerned that the ready availability of this book will lead to people being more effective in any attempts to take their own lives,” which sadly ended up being the case.

Read: Amazon faces influx of AI-generated book ads on Kindle

During her investigation, the coroner found that the book in question was easily accessible on Amazon.co.uk, available for expedited delivery through Amazon Prime. Despite the potential harm identified by Amazon, evident from a banner atop the listing featuring contact numbers for the Samaritans, the book remains on sale. This issue had previously been raised in December 2023 by the Area Coroner for Cheshire, who wrote to Amazon expressing concerns but has yet to receive a response.

It’s not only the UK version of the site that has seen these kinds of searches. Chloe Macdermott, who died on 23rd May 2021, reportedly searched for one of these books on Amazon US. The coroner Paul Rogers addressed the tech giant: “In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe your organisation has the power to take such action. It is for each addressee to respond to matters relevant to them.” 

Apart from the e-commerce site, the report was sent to a number of senior bodies including the Home Office, the Department of Health and Social Care, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, media regulator Ofcom, the British Transport Police, the National Police Chiefs Council, as well as Google. Coroners have raised four Prevention of Future Deaths reports addressed to Amazon this year.

‘Shocking’ and ‘sad’: family and friends react to books on suicide on Amazon

The BBC recently interviewed family and friends of the deceased, who called the situation “very, very sad”. Mary Jones’ daughter Christine Wadsworth said: “It is shocking that you can just get a book like that. You don’t expect to see it within the virtual bookshelves. You wouldn’t expect that to just be sitting there as something you can select and buy and read.

“I don’t think this book should be on sale. I don’t quite know why it exists and who it’s directed at really.”

Differing viewpoints

Speaking to How To Be Books, an Amazon spokesperson said: “We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Ms Cooper.

“As a bookseller, we’ve chosen to offer a broad range of viewpoints, including books that some may find objectionable, and we have content guidelines governing which books can be listed for sale.

“We recognise this is a highly sensitive issue, and as such, we display a banner on the product detail page for this book, which presents customers with information on how to access free and confidential advice from the Samaritans.”

Read: World Suicide Prevention Day: important reads to raise awareness

How To Be Books has chosen not to reveal more details about any of the deaths, or what was bought from Amazon.

Please contact Samaritans (116 123) or via email at jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie, if you are based in the UK and you need assistance. Dial 999 if you require immediate help. Youth suicide charity Papyrus can be contacted on 0800 068 4141 or email pat@papyrus-uk.org.

If you’re around the world, please find some relevant resources near you here.