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| Bristol University did not help suicidal student before she died, coroner hears | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A vulnerable student at a university where there had been several sudden deaths did not get wellbeing support despite telling a department manager she had tried to take her own life, a coroner has been told. | |
| Natasha Abrahart, a second-year student at the University of Bristol, sent an email to a manager at the university’s school of physics two months before she was found dead in April. | Natasha Abrahart, a second-year student at the University of Bristol, sent an email to a manager at the university’s school of physics two months before she was found dead in April. |
| Abrahart, 20, had told the student administration manager: “I wanted to tell you that the past few days have been really hard. I have been having suicidal thoughts and to a certain degree attempted it.” | Abrahart, 20, had told the student administration manager: “I wanted to tell you that the past few days have been really hard. I have been having suicidal thoughts and to a certain degree attempted it.” |
| The young woman’s family told the pre-inquest review at Flax Bourton, near Bristol, that despite her message there appeared to have been no direct contact with the student wellbeing service. | The young woman’s family told the pre-inquest review at Flax Bourton, near Bristol, that despite her message there appeared to have been no direct contact with the student wellbeing service. |
| Her family also expressed concern at the “very limited contact” that occurred between Abrahart and her personal tutor, and raised questions about what allowances were made by academic staff when it became clear she was struggling with her studies. | Her family also expressed concern at the “very limited contact” that occurred between Abrahart and her personal tutor, and raised questions about what allowances were made by academic staff when it became clear she was struggling with her studies. |
| Natasha’s parents, Robert and Margaret, told the court through their barrister, Tom Stoate, they were worried that other students about to begin studying at Bristol could be at risk. | Natasha’s parents, Robert and Margaret, told the court through their barrister, Tom Stoate, they were worried that other students about to begin studying at Bristol could be at risk. |
| Stoate said: “We take this opportunity to note the family’s particular concern that a student as vulnerable as Natasha appears to have had no direct contact from the student wellbeing service. We think that is potentially a very serious omission.” | Stoate said: “We take this opportunity to note the family’s particular concern that a student as vulnerable as Natasha appears to have had no direct contact from the student wellbeing service. We think that is potentially a very serious omission.” |
| He added that the family also believed Natasha could have “fallen into a gap” between the university and health professionals involved in treating her. “The family are also particularly concerned about the apparent lack of information sharing between the NHS agencies and the university.” | He added that the family also believed Natasha could have “fallen into a gap” between the university and health professionals involved in treating her. “The family are also particularly concerned about the apparent lack of information sharing between the NHS agencies and the university.” |
| Stoate said the family was worried that the university, in its submission to the court, said that no changes had been made to system since Abrahart’s death. “We consider that this may indicate the presence of a continuing risk which may give rise to future deaths of students at Bristol University,” he said. | Stoate said the family was worried that the university, in its submission to the court, said that no changes had been made to system since Abrahart’s death. “We consider that this may indicate the presence of a continuing risk which may give rise to future deaths of students at Bristol University,” he said. |
| He asked the senior coroner for Avon, Maria Voisin, to consider making a report to prevent further deaths. The coroner gave the university three weeks to supply more details about the wellbeing service. | He asked the senior coroner for Avon, Maria Voisin, to consider making a report to prevent further deaths. The coroner gave the university three weeks to supply more details about the wellbeing service. |
| Natasha, who died on 30 April, is believed to be the 10th University of Bristol student to have died suddenly since October 2016. | |
| In a statement outside court, Natasha’s parents paid tribute to their “wonderful, caring daughter”. | In a statement outside court, Natasha’s parents paid tribute to their “wonderful, caring daughter”. |
| They said: “She was a hard-working, high-achieving individual. She was disciplined, well-organised, persistent, analytical and determined. She had her whole life in front of her and we still cannot believe that she is no longer with us. | They said: “She was a hard-working, high-achieving individual. She was disciplined, well-organised, persistent, analytical and determined. She had her whole life in front of her and we still cannot believe that she is no longer with us. |
| “Over the last two months we have conducted our own in-depth analysis of available material. This has provided a better understanding of what transpired. However, we still have a lot of questions and concerns. For the benefit of university students across the country we want to ensure that any lessons which can be learned from Natasha’s death are identified and acted upon.” | “Over the last two months we have conducted our own in-depth analysis of available material. This has provided a better understanding of what transpired. However, we still have a lot of questions and concerns. For the benefit of university students across the country we want to ensure that any lessons which can be learned from Natasha’s death are identified and acted upon.” |
| Gus Silverman, a public law and human rights lawyer, at Irwin Mitchell, who is representing Natasha’s parents, said: “The number of recent deaths among students at the University of Bristol has been a matter of considerable and understandable public concern.” | Gus Silverman, a public law and human rights lawyer, at Irwin Mitchell, who is representing Natasha’s parents, said: “The number of recent deaths among students at the University of Bristol has been a matter of considerable and understandable public concern.” |
| A full inquest will take place next year. The coroner has yet to rule on whether it will be heard by a jury. | A full inquest will take place next year. The coroner has yet to rule on whether it will be heard by a jury. |
| The University of Bristol said: “We offer our sincere sympathies to Natasha’s family following her tragic death and will co-operate fully with the coroner to ensure any lessons learned are built into the support we provide our students. | |
| “Mental health and well-being is fast emerging as the single biggest public health issue affecting young people today, both here in the UK and globally. We are taking every step we can, to work with our students to help them build the life-skills and resilience to cope with the pressures they face, and to identify vulnerable students as early as possible so we can support them with their mental health issues. | |
| “Our whole-institution approach will help us reach out to our students more proactively. We are putting in place a structure of preventative services and policies to try and avoid our students reaching crisis point. | |
| “Mental health leads from the NHS and Public Health England are actively engaged in the planning and development of this approach.” | |
| In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international suicide helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org. | |
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