The Abrahart family, who lost their daughter Natasha to suicide while studying at the University of Bristol, are dismayed at the government’s response to their petition regarding a statutory legal duty of care for students in higher education. The family is one of 25 who initiated a parliamentary petition last October, calling on the government to pass legislation that would improve the safety, health, and wellbeing of students and make it a government priority. To work towards this objective, a new campaign, #ForThe100, named for the 100 students who are estimated to take their lives each year in the UK, has been launched. The group is lobbying for the establishment of a legal duty of care for students on university campuses.
However, the government’s response claims that higher education providers already have a “general duty of care” to their students which makes it their responsibility to prevent any harm caused by their actions. This response has angered families who have lost children to suicide and point out that without a statutory duty of care, this pledge is meaningless. Natasha’s father, Robert Abrahart, has accused the government of avoiding the matter and stated that the government should introduce a bill in parliament if students deserve the protection of a legal duty of care.
According to the Office for National Statistics, the latest figures available show that there were 64 deaths –three per 100,000 students—in the academic year 2020, which is thought to be the lowest rate over four years. In light of this data and this campaign’s support, the government can seize an opportunity to define the legal responsibilities that universities owe their students through a statute. If the government fails to do so, many families and students will struggle to hold universities accountable through the courts following a tragedy.
Universities UK is calling for a legal framework within which universities can operate, but a spokesperson also emphasizes that any additional obligation should not harm students and should enhance mental health outcomes and safety for all. The Department for Education’s spokesperson expressed the government’s condolences to Natasha’s family and emphasized that the mental health and wellbeing of students, particularly suicide prevention, is a government priority. The government has arranged for £15m to be assigned to the Office for Students, supporting student mental health, and asked the Office for National Statistics to examine student suicide data more often. Additionally, the government has appointed the first ever “student support champion”, Edward Peck, who has been talking to bereaved parents to understand how the government can tackle the issue. Finally, the government is endorsing the university mental health charter that is promoting a whole-university approach to student wellness and mental health led by Student Minds.
If you are in the UK and experiencing a crisis, you can reach out to Samaritans at 116 123. For those in Australia, Lifeline is there to provide crisis support at 13 11 14. In the US, the suicide prevention lifeline is reachable at 1-800-273-8255. Those seeking international helplines can find them at www.befrienders.org.
