A deep dive into the review of student suicides in England reveals that universities might be missing the mark when it comes to addressing the real issues at hand. The parents of a student who tragically took her own life before a class presentation expressed their disappointment with the findings of the national review, commissioned by the Department for Education. The review highlighted the distressing experiences families faced at the hands of university administrators and called for greater transparency and involvement from universities in dealing with such sensitive matters.
Prof Sir Louis Appleby, director of the national confidential inquiry into suicide and safety in mental health, emphasized the importance of learning from these tragic incidents to prevent future deaths. While universities showed a positive response to the review, families shared their feelings of being excluded from the process of understanding what happened to their loved ones. Robert Abrahart, father of Natasha Abrahart, criticized the review for not addressing the underlying issues of accountability and the lack of a clear responsibility structure within universities for students in distress.
The review, which analyzed serious incident reports from the 2023-24 academic year, revealed that mental ill-health was a common factor in nearly half of the cases, with academic pressures also playing a significant role. Dr. Cathryn Rodway suggested that mental health awareness and suicide prevention training should be provided to all staff in student-facing roles to better recognize and respond to risks. Debbie Laycock from Samaritans emphasized the need for universities to prioritize students’ mental health alongside their academic studies and ensure that staff are equipped to identify warning signs of suicide.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson acknowledged the need for transparency and real improvements in handling student mental health issues. Families of the victims have been campaigning for universities to have a statutory duty of care towards students, highlighting the urgency of implementing changes to prevent further tragedies. As the conversation around student mental health continues, it is essential for universities to take meaningful steps towards creating a culture of care and providing adequate support to those in need.
In times of crisis, it’s important to remember that help is available. Organizations like Samaritans in the UK and Ireland, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in the US, and Lifeline in Australia offer support and guidance to those struggling with mental health issues. By working together with experts, students, and universities, we can strive to make a positive impact on the well-being of students and prevent future tragedies from occurring.
