A 13-year-old girl took her life after becoming upset when a friend also made a suicide attempt, an inquest heard.

Samiya Farren Kerr, known as Simi, was found passed away in her bedroom in June last year by her devastated mother. 

In the weeks before Simi's death, a friend had also attempted suicide which the teen struggled to process.

But the head of learning support at her school admitted signs of Simi's distress may have been overlooked as the school was preoccupied by the recent suicide attempt of the other pupil.

In diaries seen by police, Simi discussed thoughts of self-harm, and wrote goodbye messages to close friends, saying: 'If you're reading this it means I'm gone.'

She had also viewed a viral video on self harm and had discussed suicide methods in chats with friends.

Simi's father, business analyst Jonathan Kerr, told Poplar Coroner's Court in east London that the teen had spent 'hours and hours' on her phone.

But police were unable to discover exactly what she had accessed online.

Mr Kerr told the inquest: 'It seems to me that these platforms have the full picture of what happened, whilst we only have a snapshot.'

Mr Kerr and his former partner, Simi's mother nurse Jennifer Farren, both raised concerns about what Simi had been accessing online.

Mr Kerr said he believed there was a 'gap in evidence' because all of the information relating to her 'online life' was not available.

Addressing witness Det Con Robin East of London's Met Police in a heated exchange, Mr Kerr asked why Simi's full search history and a record of who she followed online had not been provided as evidence.

The detective, who was present in the hours after Simi was found dead and directed the online investigation into devices seized from the child's home, told the court that the Met cannot access information from digital platforms unless it is searching for something specific.

'Especially with American platforms; when we do not know exactly what we're looking for, it's considered a fishing expedition and we can't go further,' he admitted.

Simi's mother described her daughter as 'kind, patient, brilliant at dancing, and with so much love for others'. 

She went to school as usual on June 5 last year and spent time with friends afterwards.

Ms Farren said: 'Then she asked me to cut her hair, so I did that, just a trim. She spent time styling her hair and making it curly.'

'Later I went into her bedroom and saw she was on her phone. I told her it was time for bed, and I asked her to tidy her room the next day.

'I hope I told her that I loved her. That was the last time I saw her.'

Ms Farren found her daughter passed away in her bedroom early the next day when she went to wake her.

She said: 'I held her. I could tell she'd been gone a while. I called 999.'

Multiple officers attended the scene in Finsbury Park, North London.

Simi's mother said she first noticed a decline in her daughter's mental health in 2024, during her separation from her long-term partner.

Simi's step-mother had been a part of her life since she was four years old, and the teenager struggled to adjust.

'In April [2025] Simi told me that she had started to self-harm,' her mother said.

'I am a nurse and I deal with these things, so I asked her if she had any thoughts of suicide.

'She told me, no.'

Speaking of her daughter's wellbeing in the months preceding her death, she added: 'We had been on a trip to Finland in May, just the two of us, to see a family friend. We talked, and she seemed happier at school.'

Simi's school friends told police she had seemed in good spirits in her final days, and was excited about attending an upcoming Billie Eilish concert.

Family and teachers at Hornsey School for Girls described Simi as a sensitive child with a close-knit circle of friends.

The court heard that one of Simi's friends had attempted to take her own life several weeks before her death, which had upset her.

Detectives with access to Simi's phone and personal diaries established that Simi and her friends had discussed the attempt.

Simi's mum said her daughter became distressed after that friend then broke contact with her.

'She said she'd received a text that said: 'My mum found our messages, we can't talk anymore.'

Simi attended drop-in counselling sessions at school in the months before her death where she was encouraged to write down her feelings.

She also made animals from clay, something she had enjoyed when younger.

She visited her GP, who recommended her for a follow up visit, and referral for private therapy.

Newly qualified doctor Imogen Lloyd became tearful as she told the court that she had been 'truly taken aback' by Simi's death.

'I didn't diagnose her, but that's not unusual for a first visit. I wasn't too concerned. I wrote down 'emotional stress,' and I was aware that there was a history of self-harm,' she said.

Dr Lloyd told Simi's parents that doctors working with young people are planning to ask more questions about social media use in future 'as it's so prevalent.'

Simi had suspected she was neurodiverse and had requested screening at school.

Multiple witnesses noted her sensitivity to loud noises and she told her form tutor she found music lessons stressful due to the loud instruments.

She also told a GP she struggled when teachers shouted in class.

School staff told the court a 'time out' pass to leave lessons when she became overwhelmed was under consideration.

In a written statement, Simi's geography teacher said she was 'a capable student with a good friendship group.'

Samuel Kent became worried about Simi a month before her death when she handed in her homework late three times.

He spoke briefly to Simi's mother, and learned she was struggling at home.

'It saddens me that I was never able to tell her how well she did in her geography exam,' he said.

Polis Polycarpou, head of learning at Simi's school, said of her death. 'We want to cover all bases. This must not happen again.'

After Simi died, her friends and family raised almost £25,000 to be donated to PAPYRUS, the young person's suicide prevention charity.

Some of the money will also be spent improving a park she loved to spend time in.

On one of the fundraisers, it said: 'Our beautiful daughter Simi tragically died at the age of 13.

'She was gentle, kind, and full of light - a sister, friend, and daughter who brought love and joy to everyone she met.

'In her memory, we are raising funds to improve Wray Crescent - a place where Simi, her brothers, and her friends spent countless hours playing, laughing, and growing together.

'The park was part of her childhood, and we want to make it even more special for others.'

The family hope to plant a tree in Simi's name, enhance the bee-friendly garden and have added a memorial bench.

Senior coroner for Inner North London, Mary Hassell, recorded a conclusion of suicide.

She said: 'I am completely satisfied that Simi acted in a way to cause her own death. In terms of intent I have struggled.

'I have taken into account Simi's diary entries, saying goodbye and apologising. Simi had an extremely sympathetic GP who was attempting to build a rapport with her.

'She tried to get to the bottom of things but did not consider that Simi planned to take her own life, which under the circumstances I can well understand. Simi had become adept at masking.

'She was a sunny person who did not give away her inner life easily.

'We have discussed her online life. I have no evidence that this was a factor, but the absence of evidence does not exclude that.'

For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit https://www.thecalmzone.net/get-support