The suicide of student Natasha Abrahart: negligence, a "contributing factor"

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Abrahart Family

One student was partially killed by negligence, an investigation ruled.

Natasha Abrahart, 20, a physics student at the University of Bristol, was found hanged on April 30th.

The Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership (AWP) has "significantly underestimated" its health status and a "blatant breach" of care.

Parents Robert and Margaret Abrahart say that they "are now actively considering legal options" against the university.

AWP confessed to Mr. and Mrs. Abrahart that two missed opportunities to implement an appropriate management plan for their daughter, particularly follow-up provisions after the prescription of the anti-depressant Sertraline.

The trust also admitted that a "broader multidisciplinary assessment" of its condition should have been made.

Mr. and Mrs. Abrahart testified that AWP had not apologized, but had paid damages as a result of the death of their daughter.

"Unacceptable delay"

The Chief Coroner of Avon Maria Voisin stated that she had found no evidence of failure on the part of Ms. Abrahart's GP or university and had stated that the student had intended to commit suicide.

Ms. Abrahart, who had attempted suicide three times, had to wait more than a month between visits from a mental health worker and it was decided that she was not running any significant risk .

She was found dead shortly before her presentation as part of her physics class.

The investigation at Avon's coroner's court learned that she was chronically shy and that she had body image issues.

Ms. Voisin stated that Ms. Abrahart's GP did well to refer her to AWP, but that there was "an unacceptable delay" before seeing her and that she was not properly evaluated.

The coroner said that Ms. Abrahart was a high-risk case that should have been prioritized, but that there was no plan to protect her.

In a statement, Ms. Abrahart's parents from West Bridgford in Nottinghamshire said the university was "sadly still denying".

"The absence of significant investigations from the university has left at least two parent groups, us and the parents of Ben Murray, looking for the answers ourselves," they said. .

"Our daughter came to Bristol in search of a better and brighter future, and instead we lost her forever.

"We will never stop working to ensure that other students do not endure the suffering they have suffered."

Professor Sarah Purdy, vice-chancellor responsible for the student experience at the University of Bristol, said: "School staff, as well as colleagues from student services, have made their best to help Natasha.We are very sad about her tragic death. "

In the last three years, 12 students from the University of Bristol have died.

Nine of the deaths have now been recorded as suicide, an investigation has yet to take place or to be determined, and two investigations have yielded narrative verdicts.