To ask you too attend a candlelight vigil tomorrow evening in Edinburgh, Bristol or London

[Sophforthe100]

.. for the 100 students every year who take their own lives every year.

The law needs to change so that Universities have a duty of care to their students.

Fine out more: www.forthe100.org.uk/vigil

I'm a very regular Mumsnetter who has name-changed to post this.

But conversely if the student hasn’t told their parents themselves then it’s likely they don’t want them to know, and if the university broke confidentiality to tell them that would be considered a failing as well.

I agree

I think you’re misunderstanding what a duty of care is. It doesn’t mean being all things to all people to protect them from everything.

My workplace has a ‘duty of care’ in a health and safety sense - it needs to do risk assessments, fire safety, make sure disabled staff are given reasonable adjustments.

It doesn’t extend to intervening in employee’s private lives and contacting their relatives if they disclose that they are depressed.

Here is the link Op. I think it's being rolled out gradually, but 50 student advisors and a team of wellness advisors are being recruited and put in place as we speak.

www.ed.ac.uk/students/academic-life/support/student-advisers

There are examples of Universities who did not contact the parents when they knew a student was suicidal.
These are adults.

I wouldn't want my work place phoning my parents if I was suicidal. It would be a huge overstep.

This is from the Office for National Statistics

Same. I was in uni in my 30s. Not everyone is in their late teens.

Those ONS stats are comparing students with everyone, yes? Not students with the similar aged population/non-students.

Good point. Here's the age related data
www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/articles/estimatingsuicideamonghighereducationstudentsenglandandwalesexperimentalstatistics/2017to2020#comparison-of-suicides-among-higher-education-students-and-general-population

“The duty of care being called for is similar to that prevailing under employment law, that universities should have a statutory duty of care to protect their students from reasonably foreseeable harm, caused either by direct injury or by failing to act.

“In work, or in education, 18- to 21-year-olds are vulnerable enough to warrant this duty, and since providers are happy to take their fees, they should also take on this duty of care. This is not just about suicide prevention; everybody will benefit from improved decision-making within the sector.”

www.theguardian.com/education/2023/feb/05/parents-horrified-by-response-to-petition-after-suicide-of-bristol-student?CMP=share_btn_tw

No, University's should support students wherever possible but they can't prevent all suicides. Sometimes a student dies and no one, not even their family knew the student was unwell. Sometimes University trys to get someone into NHS residential care but the NHS say they don't meet the threshold. I've even seen students with preexisting severe mental health issues encouraged to study, despite not being well enough. The issues are hugely complex but making University legally responsible isn't the answer.

I don’t think this was a good topic for AIBU.

OP, you are going to find the replies hard.

I actually do think universities have a duty of care to their students in respect of mental health, particularly around exams. However, the relationship is between the university and the student. The university is not responsible for contacting third parties although there should be a mechanism for doing that in serious circumstances.

it is not the universities role to check up on students, any more than it is the busdrivers role, the shop assistant's role, the hairdressers role...

You are totally misunderstanding the role of a university - it is primarily a research organisation, partially funding itself by getting its researchers to give lectures

I think maybe the issue is that the role of schools has become so distorted and unreasonable, that parents who have got used to demanding ridiculous things from schools think they can demand the same from universities

It simply isnt feasible to try and dump this sort of duty on universities, they don't have the personal, the resources, the time, the money, or even the requirement to take responsibility for adults who come to their lecturers

sorry

How can they if the adult doesnt consent. In the same way any organisation cannot disclose personal information to someone where there isnt consent, whether that be Sainsburys or the library, wherever someone is working.

I would like to think that any agency or organisation would contact the NHS/crisis team/patients GP to share the information, that does need to happen.

Are you saying that if my employer knew I was suicidal they would inform my family without my consent?

Why should unis speak to parents? They are adults and surely it is a privacy issue?

No-one is saying that. The campaign ask is this: “The duty of care being called for is similar to that prevailing under employment law, that universities should have a statutory duty of care to protect their students from reasonably foreseeable harm, caused either by direct injury or by failing to act.

“In work, or in education, 18- to 21-year-olds are vulnerable enough to warrant this duty, and since providers are happy to take their fees, they should also take on this duty of care. This is not just about suicide prevention; everybody will benefit from improved decision-making within the sector.”

I think like others are saying you're misunderstanding what a duty of care entails

What in practical terms are you talking about then in relation to suicide?

I wonder how many people on here saying "students are adults" have parented an 18 year old?

I am involved in this campaign for personal reasons. Please read the experiences of some of the parents on the website to get a better understanding of the issues we are highlighting.
www.forthe100.org.uk

They can still go to the gp though like non students

But you're not answering the question, what in practical terms would you like to see happening and how is that comparable with an employers 'duty of care'

Im sorry if you have had a loss of this kind, its unimaginable but I do feel focusing on universities in a blame manner is a red herring and a misuse of the focus and energies which need to be put into challengin and campaigning for the NHS services to be vastly improved.

Yes I have parented an 18 year old and Ive also been one. The cut off for adulthood has to be a line somewhere, I had left home long before I was 18 and I dont believe in infantilisation of young adults, I think its hugely damaging to them and society.

Bellac that is why we want a debate in parliament to discuss all the issues properly. I agree there are a lot of nuances, it is not about apportioning blame but - hopefully - passing carefully considered legislation which will result in better outcomes and decision-making for everyone's benefit. And save lives.

I have.

a child with MH issues, who has attempted suicide.

and I think that all people matter. The suicide rate is significantly higher among non-students. Why not hold a vigil for all those who have been so desperate they have taken their own lives?