Summary
Universities in England have been advised to improve efforts to prevent student suicides based on a review by the Department for Education. The report, examining 169 cases of student suicide and serious self-harm in 2023-24, suggests better safety checks, more involvement of families, and improved mental health support.
Key Facts
- The Department for Education conducted a review to prevent student suicides at English universities.
- The report analyzed 169 cases of suicide and serious self-harm from 73 universities in the 2023-24 period.
- Nearly a quarter of these incidents happened in university-managed accommodations.
- The review found families were often not included in serious incident investigations.
- It made 19 recommendations, including better safety checks in student halls and discouraging tributes at suicide locations.
- Universities are encouraged to improve mental health service awareness and access.
- Some students felt supported by their universities, but the review suggested more could be done sector-wide.
- The family of Natasha Abrahart, a student who died by suicide, criticized the review as inadequate.
