Southampton University given mental health warning after student’s suicide

Coroner in Matthew Wickes inquest raises concern over awareness and curiosity' of academic staff around mental health

A coroner has issued a warning to Southampton University over the awareness, understanding and curiosity" of academic staff around the mental health of students after a student killed himself on the day his exam results were due.

Christopher Wilkinson, the senior area coroner for Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton, said interruptions to academic work and to the rhythms of normal student life during and after the pandemic had had a significant impact on mental health.

In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org.