University gets mental health warning after student suicide
A RUSSELL Group university has been warned by a senior coroner over the “significant” impact the pandemic has had on the mental health of its students.
Christopher Wilkinson said academic staff needed to be aware of the toll that “interruptions to their study” and “dysregulated life” has had on students. His warning came after Matthew Wickes, a University of Southampton engineering undergraduate, killed himself on the day his exam results were due to be released, on June 30 2022.
The “highly intelligent” 21-year-old had been on track for a first-class degree before his academic scores suffered a “big drop-off”. An inquest heard that Mr Wickes, who may have been suffering from long Covid, submitted work he felt “did not cut the mustard”. On the eve of results day, he left his girlfriend’s accommodation before jumping from a bridge in Southampton.
The inquest at Winchester Coroner’s Court concluded that Mr Wickes – who was autistic – took his own life because he thought he had failed his third year.
Now, Mr Wilkinson, senior coroner for Hampshire, has questioned the support that he received from staff.
In a prevention of future deaths report addressed to the university, he said: “I am concerned about the level of awareness, understanding and curiosity of academic staff around the mental health of students. Particularly in the post-pandemic climate, where interruptions to their study and dysregulated student life have had a significant impact on their mental health.”
Mr Wilkinson said an approach where the onus was on students to “reach out” for help may not work. He reminded the university that it was under a statutory obligation to respond within 56 days, by March 15.
‘I am concerned about the level of curiosity of academic staff around the mental health of students’