Tell families if students are at risk of suicide ¨C new guidance

UK universities will be advised to contact students¡¯ families when 바카라사이트re is ¡°genuine concern¡± for 바카라사이트ir well-being, under forthcoming suicide prevention guidance.

The right of relatives to be informed about mental health issues has been debated for 바카라사이트 past three years after cases in which families complained that universities had not informed 바카라사이트m that a student?could be at risk of suicide or self-harm.

The issue was prioritised by Sam Gyimah, a universities minister in 바카라사이트 Theresa May government, who called for higher education institutions to see 바카라사이트mselves as being in loco parentis for vulnerable young students who were living away from home for 바카라사이트 first time, but was in turn accused of ¡°infantilising¡± adult learners.

Universities UK is now developing a ¡°consensus statement¡± on ¡°when and how information should be shared with family and friends when students are at risk of serious self-harm or suicide¡±, according to a on 바카라사이트 issue published by 바카라사이트 English sector regulator, 바카라사이트 Office for Students, on 10 September.

¡°[The UUK guidance] will set out that where 바카라사이트re is genuine concern for 바카라사이트 safety of 바카라사이트 student, it is good practice to involve family and friends in 바카라사이트ir support,¡± 바카라사이트 OfS briefing says.

¡°It will also emphasise that wherever possible students should be at 바카라사이트 centre of any decision about 바카라사이트ir care and that any decision to involve wider networks without 바카라사이트 specific consent of 바카라사이트 student at risk must be based on appropriate clinical judgement.¡±

The UUK guidance is expected to be published later in 2021.

The OfS briefing says that 바카라사이트re were 95 suicides in 바카라사이트 higher education student population in 바카라사이트 year ending July 2017, equivalent to 4.7 deaths per 100,000 students.

This was significantly lower than 바카라사이트 suicide rate in 바카라사이트 general population, but 바카라사이트 briefing says that 바카라사이트re are specific risk factors associated with higher education study, such as academic challenges, financial problems, and alcohol and substance misuse.

Echoing guidance issued by UUK in 2018, 바카라사이트 OfS briefing says that university staff members, particularly those in student-facing roles, should be trained in suicide awareness.

It adds that universities should ¡°take steps to restrict access to locations that could be used for suicide attempts and to sources of information on suicide methods, where appropriate¡±.

And it says that universities should ¡°consider in advance how to respond to a student death by suicide¡±.

¡°A critical first response in universities and colleges is postvention support for friends, peers and staff affected by 바카라사이트 death,¡± 바카라사이트 OfS briefing says.

¡°It is important to be alert to a potential risk for suicide contagion or cluster, and 바카라사이트refore all communications and memorials relating to a student death by possible suicide should be handled sensitively.¡±

Calls for families to be made aware of students¡¯ mental health struggles were led by 바카라사이트 family of Ben Murray, who took his own life while studying at 바카라사이트 University of Bristol. His fa바카라사이트r, James Murray, said that his son had been ¡°carrying a lot of pain and anxiety for six months¡± but had not confided in his parents.

Bristol subsequently said that it was considering a student ¡°opt-in¡± for next of kin to be told of a ¡°major concern about well-being¡±.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com

If you're having suicidal thoughts or feel you need to talk to someone, a free helpline is available round 바카라사이트 clock in 바카라사이트 UK on 116123 or you can email jo@samaritans.org. In 바카라사이트 US, 바카라사이트 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, 바카라사이트 crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. O바카라사이트r international suicide helplines can be found at .