A review of student suicides in England, conducted by Prof Sir Louis Appleby, highlighted alarming shortcomings in university support systems. While it emphasized the need for greater transparency and accountability, many families expressed disappointment, feeling universities excluded them from crucial discussions. Robert Abrahart, whose daughter Natasha committed suicide, criticized the review for not addressing fundamental issues, such as untrained staff and poor communication. He argued universities lack a clear responsibility for students in distress, leading to inadequately timed interventions. The families called for meaningful change, including a legal duty of care in higher education.
The families we spoke to provided moving accounts of feeling excluded from the process of finding out what happened to their loved ones.
Prof Sir Louis Appleby stated: 'The main aim of this national review is to improve learning from these tragic incidents to help prevent future deaths.'
Robert Abrahart said the review fails to tackle underlying issues of accountability and that universities do not take responsibility for students in distress.
We need change. We need a legal duty of care in higher education.
Collection
[
|
...
]