The family of Natasha Abrahart, a 20-year-old Physics student who very sadly took her own life in April 2018, brought a civil action against the University of Bristol. A judgement, handed down on 20 May by His Honour Judge Ralton at Bristol County Court, found the University was not negligent, but deemed the adjustments made by the University for Natasha’s academic assessment were insufficient.
After carefully considering the judgement and its implications for the higher education sector, we will be seeking leave from the High Court to appeal the judge's finding that the University was in breach of the Equality Act.
We would like to make it clear that this appeal is not against the Abrahart family, nor are we disputing the specific circumstances of Natasha's death. We remain deeply sorry for their loss and we are not contesting the damages awarded by the judge.
In appealing, we are seeking absolute clarity for the higher education sector around the application of the Equality Act when staff do not know a student has a disability, or when it has yet to be diagnosed.
We hope it will also enable us to provide transparency to students and their families about how we support them and to give all university staff across the country the confidence to do that properly.
In Natasha's case, academic and administrative staff assisted Natasha with a referral to both the NHS and our Disability Services, as well as suggesting alternative options for her academic assessment to alleviate the anxiety she faced about presenting her laboratory findings to her peers.
However the judgement suggests they should have gone further than this, although Natasha's mental health difficulties had not been diagnosed. Understandably, this has caused considerable anxiety as it puts a major additional burden on staff who are primarily educators, not healthcare professionals.
Higher education staff across the country share our concern about the wider impact this judgement could have. Collectively, we are deeply concerned by the increase of mental health issues amongst our young people nationally, and are determined to do our very best to support any student who is struggling with their mental health through the provision of a wide range of services. At the same time, it is important that students and their families are clear on what universities can and cannot do, and that students receive appropriate specialist care under the NHS should they need it.
Where to go for support
To seek support within the University, we encourage students to access our services:
Students may not always be sure about what kind of support they need – to explore what might be helpful, please complete the form, telephone or email Wellbeing Access who will be happy to help.
Out of hours and outside the university, the following services are available 24/7:
- NHS 111: for out of hours GP support
- Togetherall (formerly Big White Wall): provides peer and professional support
- Bristol Mindline: a confidential freephone helpline if you or someone you know is in distress 0808 808 0330
- The Samaritans: freephone number 116123 available for anyone in distress
- The student-run Nightline service can also be contacted 8pm to 8am every term time night on 0117 926 6266
Staff are able to access support via the Staff Wellbeing Services.
Further information
Student mental health
The health, welfare and best interests of our students and staff is the University of Bristol's top priority. We have embedded the aims and approaches of our Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy across the University and are delivering against a dedicated action plan.
Key measures in our 'whole-institution' approach include:
- Strengthening support for our students during their transition into University.
- Refining our 'opt-in' approach for students to share their emergency contacts with the University.
- Embedding personal development, wellbeing and resilience in the curriculum through our Bristol Futures initiative.
- Having teams of full-time professional services staff in our halls of residence (Residential Life advisers) who offer advice and support 24 hours a day, throughout the whole year, and who work with our established teams of live-in student peer mentors on community building and early identification and support of vulnerable students.
- Introducing a new 'one at a time' model for Student Counselling, which has reduced average waiting times.
- Bolstering our GP Service so that we can support urgent cases on the same day if necessary; creating a dedicated Wellbeing Access team to triage requests for support to make it easier for students to request support and ensure they are directed to the best service such as our GP Service or our Mental Health Advisory Service while channelling less urgent cases to appropriate counselling, life-style, mindfulness and exercise programmes.
- Strengthening partnerships with external providers such as the NHS, Public Health England and the charitable sector so students in difficulty can be referred and treated promptly.
- Being involved in highly productive partnerships with groups and initiatives including the Student Mental Health Partnership Project (funded by OfS), Thrive Bristol Steering Group, Avon Gorge Working Group and Suicide Action Group (with Bristol City Council), and an Advance HE collective project, 'Embedding Mental Wellbeing in the Curriculum'.
- Creating a strong focus on employability with a view to supporting our students during their second challenging transition – moving from student life to the workforce after graduation.
- Reviewing our policies and communications in difficult areas such as withdrawal and fitness-to-study, ensuring students are appropriately supported by the University, their parents and others during such challenging event.
Student suicides
- The University has an extensive and exhaustive suicide prevention strategy. Most of this strategy was, and is, long-term: it seeks to prevent mental health crises and suicide both through helping with existing mental health issues and improving the student experience.
- Wellbeing Services have introduced a triage model to support urgent cases and send students to the most helpful service based on their specific case.
- Wellbeing equally encompasses general happiness. Our 'Science of Happiness' unit came, in part, as a response to rising numbers of students seeking mental health support and is the first of its kind in the UK.
You can read more about our approach to wellbeing and mental health in our staff and student wellbeing strategies.
