A Croydon mother whose 13-year-old son has been "in and out of therapy" since her husband killed himself has told of the anguish after the son watched a video from YouTube star Logan Paul depicting a suicide victim.

A twenty-two-year-old vlogger, Mr Paul faced severe criticism for the clip showing a suicide victim in Japan's Aokigahara Forest, which received millions of views, before being taken down. He has since apologised.

Joan Conrick, 45, said her son often blamed himself for the death of his father in 2008.

She also said her son had been traumatised by witnessing the footage, and called on Paul to "step out of the limelight" and "meet with families who have experienced suicide if he wants to make amends".

In an essay sent to the Press Association, Ms Conrick, who used a false name to protect her family's identity, wrote: "My husband took his life eight years ago, a year after the financial crash (2008). He wasn't found immediately, so my children have always been disturbed by his suicide.

"My 13-year-old son, like many kids his age, loves following all the popular YouTubers. I assumed that the likes of Logan Paul was fairly innocent, even though much of his content is obnoxious. But I try to be an easygoing parent.

"To give you a little history with my son, he has had the hardest time dealing with his father's death, as he felt that it was his fault. He had disagreed with his father about something on the day his father walked out of the house for the last time.

"Not only that, he also will make jokes about killing himself. Consequently, he has been in and out of therapy. Last night he came to me and described how Logan Paul had uploaded [a video of] someone who had hanged themselves."

She couldn't believe what she had seen and assumed it was a "vulgar prank."

"He kept saying how he could see how the hands were all purple," Ms Conrick wrote.

"So now I am worried for him on several levels. I am worried he will regain his fixation with the concept of suicide, especially as he has seen a popular figure consider it to be a joke.

"Already my children struggle to explain to others how their father died, when they ask. Suicide isn't an easy thing to explain - not like 'my father died of an illness or an accident'. So I am extremely upset that so many young impressionable children saw Logan Paul make light (and laugh at) a suicide victim.

"Children who could potentially make jokes at the expense of children like mine - because they saw a celebrity make it cool. And for children who have lost a parent/sibling/loved one to suicide, their pain has been made into a joke.

"Suicide is like an atomic blast in any family. It isn't 'clean' like dying from an accident or from illness. It is shrouded in taboo, confusion, guilt.

"Logan Paul should meet with families who have experienced suicide if he wants to make amends. Humbly bowing out of the limelight would also be a step towards him growing up and taking life seriously. Maybe he led a sheltered and privileged life, as he seems to be out of touch with reality."

For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see samaritans.org for details