Eritrean teenager who killed himself in UK lacked right support, inquest finds

Social workers struggled to provide effective help for Alexander Tekle, one of four friends who all killed themselves, coroner says

Overworked social workers struggled to put in place effective measures to support a vulnerable Eritrean teenager seeking asylum who went on to kill himself, an inquest has concluded.

The death of Alexander Tekle, who died a few months after turning 18 and less than a year after arriving in the UK, was a tragedy, the Westminster coroner Bernard Richmond said. Tekle killed himself in December 2017 in Mitcham, south London.

In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org.