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| Aberystwyth uni told student was suicidal before his death | Aberystwyth uni told student was suicidal before his death |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Charlie McLeod's mum says she will miss "everything about him" | Charlie McLeod's mum says she will miss "everything about him" |
| Charlie McLeod's mum says she will miss "everything about him" | Charlie McLeod's mum says she will miss "everything about him" |
| The mum of a student who killed himself days after sharing his suicidal thoughts with his university said it "could have been different" if his family were told he was struggling | The mum of a student who killed himself days after sharing his suicidal thoughts with his university said it "could have been different" if his family were told he was struggling |
| Charlie McLeod, 25, was found dead in his student accommodation at Aberystwyth University on 3 February. | Charlie McLeod, 25, was found dead in his student accommodation at Aberystwyth University on 3 February. |
| His mother, Emma Laney, does not know if enough was done when he told the university's wellbeing services. | His mother, Emma Laney, does not know if enough was done when he told the university's wellbeing services. |
| The university said it was in touch with Charlie "throughout" the year. | The university said it was in touch with Charlie "throughout" the year. |
| Ms Laney said more needed to be done at universities to make sure people get the help they need while having a mental health crisis. | Ms Laney said more needed to be done at universities to make sure people get the help they need while having a mental health crisis. |
| "If they'd just contacted home, it could have been a different outcome. We'll never know, sadly," she added. | "If they'd just contacted home, it could have been a different outcome. We'll never know, sadly," she added. |
| Cost of living increasing stress for uni students | Cost of living increasing stress for uni students |
| Student killed herself after wrongly being told she failed exam | Student killed herself after wrongly being told she failed exam |
| Emma said she would remember her son, from Winchester in Hampshire, as "an extremely intelligent young man" who was an "amazing big brother" to Max and Angel. | Emma said she would remember her son, from Winchester in Hampshire, as "an extremely intelligent young man" who was an "amazing big brother" to Max and Angel. |
| After a stint in China as an English teacher, Charlie applied to Aberystwyth to study computer science. | After a stint in China as an English teacher, Charlie applied to Aberystwyth to study computer science. |
| "He was always saying that he was doing well on the course. He found it very interesting. He made some new friends. It seemed a positive time for him," said Emma. | "He was always saying that he was doing well on the course. He found it very interesting. He made some new friends. It seemed a positive time for him," said Emma. |
| Charlie McLeod taught English in China before starting at Aberystwyth University | Charlie McLeod taught English in China before starting at Aberystwyth University |
| But in the summer of 2022, she said she noticed a difference - he was not communicating as often and kept telling his family he was busy. | But in the summer of 2022, she said she noticed a difference - he was not communicating as often and kept telling his family he was busy. |
| "Christmas time he seemed extremely down. He didn't want to join in with anything. Everything seemed an effort. He just wasn't himself." | "Christmas time he seemed extremely down. He didn't want to join in with anything. Everything seemed an effort. He just wasn't himself." |
| Emma was told Charlie admitted himself to A&E as a result of his mental health on 25 January. | Emma was told Charlie admitted himself to A&E as a result of his mental health on 25 January. |
| The following day he went to a scheduled counselling session with the university's wellbeing service and said he was feeling suicidal. | The following day he went to a scheduled counselling session with the university's wellbeing service and said he was feeling suicidal. |
| This was his last engagement with the service and he died days later. | This was his last engagement with the service and he died days later. |
| An inquest into his death is due to be held in the autumn. | An inquest into his death is due to be held in the autumn. |
| A university spokesman said: "Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with Charlie's friends and family at such an extremely difficult time. | A university spokesman said: "Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with Charlie's friends and family at such an extremely difficult time. |
| "While we cannot go into individual circumstances, our student wellbeing team were in contact with Charlie throughout the 22-23 academic year, with the aim of providing direct support as well as linking to statutory NHS health and mental health services where appropriate." | "While we cannot go into individual circumstances, our student wellbeing team were in contact with Charlie throughout the 22-23 academic year, with the aim of providing direct support as well as linking to statutory NHS health and mental health services where appropriate." |
| Emma Laney says Charlie (left) was "an amazing big brother" to Max and Angel | Emma Laney says Charlie (left) was "an amazing big brother" to Max and Angel |
| Emma said she had "an overwhelming sense that something wasn't right" so asked Charlie's dad to contact the university, which is when it was discovered that Charlie was dead. | Emma said she had "an overwhelming sense that something wasn't right" so asked Charlie's dad to contact the university, which is when it was discovered that Charlie was dead. |
| She said: "I feel a lot more should have been done. A lot more communication, sharing of information. I mean if they'd just contacted home or even a professional mental health then, you know, it could have been a different outcome." | She said: "I feel a lot more should have been done. A lot more communication, sharing of information. I mean if they'd just contacted home or even a professional mental health then, you know, it could have been a different outcome." |
| Romana Nemcová, 22, was Charlie's girlfriend and is now one of the organisers of the Charlie Asked For Help campaign, which was set up by fellow students to demand the university changes how it handles cases like this. | Romana Nemcová, 22, was Charlie's girlfriend and is now one of the organisers of the Charlie Asked For Help campaign, which was set up by fellow students to demand the university changes how it handles cases like this. |
| She said: "It's really important because Charlie was an incredible person. I want to make a change for future students so, future students will not suffer how he suffered. | She said: "It's really important because Charlie was an incredible person. I want to make a change for future students so, future students will not suffer how he suffered. |
| "He could still be here if he'd had help and that's the most difficult part for me." | "He could still be here if he'd had help and that's the most difficult part for me." |
| Emma Laney feels something could have been done to save her son's life | Emma Laney feels something could have been done to save her son's life |
| The Charlie Asked For Help campaigners say students need clearer communication with wellbeing services, as well as help to register with a GP practice when they start university. | The Charlie Asked For Help campaigners say students need clearer communication with wellbeing services, as well as help to register with a GP practice when they start university. |
| Rachael Eagles, chief executive of Area 43, a mental health charity based in Ceredigion, said there were not enough services to meet demand. | Rachael Eagles, chief executive of Area 43, a mental health charity based in Ceredigion, said there were not enough services to meet demand. |
| "We need to decide what the gold standard of mental health services and care looks like and then ensure access to that wherever you are," she said. | "We need to decide what the gold standard of mental health services and care looks like and then ensure access to that wherever you are," she said. |
| This "gold standard" is something the National Union of Students Wales wants the Welsh government to implement at all universities in to ensure a "consistent model" of support. | This "gold standard" is something the National Union of Students Wales wants the Welsh government to implement at all universities in to ensure a "consistent model" of support. |
| The Welsh government said: "We have established an expert group to provide advice on how to improve access to mental health services and ensure universities across Wales have consistent and accessible support for students." | The Welsh government said: "We have established an expert group to provide advice on how to improve access to mental health services and ensure universities across Wales have consistent and accessible support for students." |
| Aberystwyth University said it was "continuously" reviewing its processes and updating practices to ensure it was giving students "the best support possible". | Aberystwyth University said it was "continuously" reviewing its processes and updating practices to ensure it was giving students "the best support possible". |
| If you have been affected by any issues raised in this article, help and support can be found at BBC Action Line. | If you have been affected by any issues raised in this article, help and support can be found at BBC Action Line. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Wales | |
| Winchester | Winchester |
| Suicide prevention | Suicide prevention |
| Aberystwyth | Aberystwyth |
| Aberystwyth University | Aberystwyth University |
| Mental health | Mental health |
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