The parents of a teenager who took his own life after joining an online forum where he received “terrible news” have started a charity to encourage teens to spend less time online.
Christoforos Nicolaou, 15, was found unconscious at his family’s home in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire in March 2022.
The aim of the foundation is to support parents who are worried about their children.
“There is nothing more we can do for our son, but they can save their children,” his mother said.
George Nicolaou, 52, and Areti Nicolaou, 49, said they noticed a relatively sudden change in their son’s behavior but never anticipated what happened.
Christoforos was a “popular kid” who loved sports and cooking and always wanted to help others, his parents said.
Mr Nicolaou said his son had changed from being a “happy, prosperous” child in the last 40 to 50 days of his life.
“When you have a son like that, you don’t think about bad things. He always talked when he was upset,” Ms Nicolaou said.
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Aside from appearing more reclusive, he also began watching horror films late at night, eating quickly before returning to his bedroom and complaining of a headache.
It was only after Christoforos’ death that his parents discovered that he was involved in at least one online forum where he was sent “terrible news”.
Mr Nicolaou said: “I opened his laptop and found very horrible conversations on a certain forum. Terrible conversations.”
His mother said one person spent days telling him to try to end his life, with her final message ending, “Are you dead?”
As a legacy for their son, they established the Chistoforos Charity Foundation (CCF).
Mr Nicolaou said: “Our house is empty, we now live for everyone else.
“It’s just the two of us… we help parents and children.”
He said they wanted parents to be “a little more mindful of what kids are up to” and encourage kids to enjoy “fun activities” in the “outside world.”
“Try talking to your kids, find a way. Parents know their children, so we need to find a way to talk to them to try to get into their minds. I know it’s difficult – they’re teenagers – but we have to try. There is nothing more we can do for our son, but they can save their children,” Ms. Nicolaou said.
“Any parent would say, ‘My son? Never. “We were them, but believe me, it happens, it happens. It could be one of them, God forbid, but we want to put an end to that and that’s why we created this charity,” Mr Nicolaou said.
If you are affected by any of these issues, you can visit the BBC Action Lineor contact them Samaritan.
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