(Warning: mentions suicide.) Universities are not including bereaved families of students thought to have died by suicide in the review process designed to prevent future deaths, a study by University of Manchester researchers has shown.
Bereaved families are not included in the reviews
Inclusion of families is a key part of guidance to universities on conducting such reviews but the study found that in most cases it did not happen. Some families described feeling the university was defensive and reluctant to answer important and painful questions.
The study found the commitment to suicide prevention in universities is strong. However, it recommends reviews are more responsive to families and proposes a ‘duty of candour’ should be developed and adopted by the higher education sector.
Most of the serious incident reviews identified potential stressors and experiences that could have contributed to suicide risk. Mental ill-health and academic problems including exam stresses were the most common factors. Around three-quarters of students had been in contact with university support services. Many had experienced adverse life events, including relationship problems, problems with housing, family relationships, their peers, or finance.
Violence including assaults and harassment not always reported
The serious incident reports showed that 13% of the students, 5 female and five male, were reported to have been victims of violence, including sexual or physical assault, harassment or threats of violence. In three, the gender of the student was not reported.
Over two-thirds (53, 67%) of the 79 reports of suspected suicide detailed how the university responded to the death, known as postvention.
Postvention to fellow students was documented in 32 (41%) of the 79 serious incident reports but just 7 (9%) said the student’s family received support. The figure was 14 (18%) for staff impacted by the death.
A total of 107 students at 73 English universities were suspected to have lost their lives to suicide in the 2023/2024 academic year. 62 incidents of non-fatal self-harm were also reported in the same period. Of the 169 cases, serious incident reports were submitted for 104 (62%) of them. And of the 104 reports, 79 (74%) were for suspected suicide and 25 (40%) for incidents of non-fatal self-harm.
One life lost is too many
Professor Sir Louis Appleby, Director of the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Safety in Mental Health at The University of Manchester, said:
A single life lost to suicide is an immeasurable tragedy. The main aim of this national review is to improve learning from these tragic incidents to help prevent future deaths. We found an excellent response from universities to this national review and, on such a sensitive issue, this is a welcome sign for prevention.
However, the families we spoke to provided moving accounts of feeling excluded from the process of finding out what happened to their loved ones, and some had a perception the university was evasive and reluctant to answer important and painful questions.
That is why input from bereaved families should be a key part of the serious incident investigation process, and their questions should be answered as far as possible.
We suggest a version of the duty of candour should be introduced to the HE sector. This would have the aim of, ensuring openness and transparency with families after a suspected suicide. This should be developed and shaped by the sector itself to ensure it is appropriate to the HE setting.
Mental health problems play a role
Dr Cathryn Rodway from The University of Manchester said:
Mental-ill health was frequently identified in the serious incident reports we examined, sometimes there were clear indications of risk through mental illness or self-harm, but other reports identified students who were experiencing less severe problems with mental well-being. We suggest mental health awareness and suicide prevention training should be available for all staff in student-facing roles, and include recognising and responding to risk and neurodiversity.
And students who are struggling academically should be recognised as potentially at risk, with enhanced support being offered at key points in the academic calendar. Access to mental health and other support should also be reviewed, particularly for those at additional risk, such as those who have experienced violence or other adverse life events.
If you are affected by any of the issues mentioned in this article, please contact a care provider or the Samaritans for help
