Background: Christopher Wilkinson, the senior area coroner for Hampshire, Portsmouth, and Southampton, has issued a warning to Southampton University following the suicide of a student, Matthew Wickes, on the day his exam results were due. The coroner emphasized the impact of pandemic-related disruptions on students’ mental health and expressed concern about the level of awareness, understanding, and curiosity of academic staff regarding student mental health.
Key Points:
Impact of Pandemic Disruptions:
Wilkinson highlighted the significant impact of interruptions to academic work and disruptions to normal student life during and after the pandemic on students’ mental health.
Preventing Future Deaths Report:
The coroner issued a preventing future deaths report to Southampton University, emphasizing the need for increased awareness and understanding among academic staff regarding student mental health.
Concerns About Academic Staff Training:
While the university claimed to offer training on mental health management to all staff, the coroner expressed concerns about the lack of compulsory elements in such training. He questioned the extent to which academic staff had viewed or undertaken online training on student mental health.
Gap Between Academic Assessment and Pastoral Support:
The coroner raised concerns about an apparent gap between academic assessment of students and the pastoral support they receive. Despite planning an “early warning system,” concerns were expressed about the effectiveness of reaching out to students facing academic or performance issues.
Recording and Minuting of Academic Meetings:
Wilkinson highlighted concerns over the existence, frequency, and accuracy of recording and minuting academic meetings with students. The university’s inability to provide clear minutes of supervisory catchups, progress checks, or agreed guidance for Matthew Wickes raised additional concerns.
Previous Instances of University Criticism: Several universities, including Bristol University and the University of Exeter, have faced criticism over their support for struggling students, leading to legal actions and demands for improved mental health provisions.
Conclusion:
The coroner’s warning to Southampton University underscores the need for heightened awareness and understanding of student mental health among academic staff, particularly in the post-pandemic climate. The preventing future deaths report calls for mandatory training elements, improved coordination between academic assessment and pastoral support, and better documentation of academic meetings to enhance student well-being and prevent future tragedies.

Erin Balsa is a highly skilled and knowledgeable health journalist with a passion for educating the public on important health and wellness topics. With extensive experience in both traditional and digital media, Erin has established herself as a trusted voice in the field.