Mother of student, 19, found dead says he was 'let down' by university
Mother of student, 19, who hanged himself in halls says he was ‘let down’ by his university after wellbeing counsellors failed to tell his GP that he thought about suicide ‘most nights’
- Ben Sharrott, 19, was found dead at the University of Salford in September
- For confidential support call Samaritans on 116123 or visit www.samaritans.org
The mother of a student who took his own life was ‘let down’ by his university after counsellors failed to pass on a note that he thought about suicide ‘most nights’.
Ben Sharrott, 19, was found hanged in a room at in John Lester Court student accommodation at the University of Salford after being reported missing by friends on November 19 last year.
The teenager, from Nuneaton, had moved to the university to study Music Performance and had appeared to be thriving during his first year at the university.
But an inquest into his death heard he had been ‘nervous’ about returning for his second year and approached the university’s wellbeing team with ‘anxiety and low mood’.
When asked on a referral form whether he was currently experiencing suicidal thoughts, he wrote: ‘Yes. Most nights I think about ways I could commit suicide.’
Ben Sharrott, 19, was found hanged in a room at in John Lester Court student accommodation at the University of Salford
The teenager (left), from Nuneaton, had moved to the university to study Music Performance and had appeared to be thriving during his first year at the university
But Ben added that he did not take the idea of taking his life ‘super seriously’.
As a result, the counselling team only rated him in an ‘amber’ risk category, meaning details of the consultation were not shared with his GP.
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When Ben contacted his doctor the following month to complain of heart palpitations, the doctor was therefore not aware of potential mental health concerns.
Just a month after the missed opportunity to offer help, the keen musician took his own life.
John Pollard, assistant coroner for Manchester West, told the inquest it was ‘clear as a pikestaff’ that Ben’s comments should have been shared with his GP.
His parents have now joined calls for universities to do more to help students struggling with their mental health.
His mother Helen said: ‘Ben went to see the university counselling service saying he had suicidal thoughts every day – that should have rung alarm bells.
‘But because he was only treated as an amber risk, it meant that when he went to his doctor, nothing was joined up.
‘It might not have made a difference, but we’re always going to be left with the thought that it might have done.’
The inquest heard Ben referred himself to the university counselling and wellbeing team last September with ‘anxiety and low mood’ shortly after beginning his second year.
He explained on a form that he thought about suicide ‘most nights’, but said he did not ‘treat these thoughts super seriously’.
Ben added: ‘I treat them more as intrusive and passing even if I do go into detail about how I could do it, they are more of a fantasy.’
Andrew Hartley, director of legal and compliance at the university, told the hearing the counselling team’s notes suggested Ben was ‘confident’ he would not commit suicide.
But Mr Pollard said it was ‘quite clear’ from the form that Ben had both the ideation and the intent of suicide.
In October, he called his mother to say he believed he was having symptoms of a heart attack.
Unaware of his suicidal thoughts, she told him it sounded like a panic attack and recommended he get in touch with his GP.
The inquest heard Ben referred himself to the university (pictured) counselling and wellbeing team last September with ‘anxiety and low mood’ shortly after beginning his second year
In a telephone consultation with Dr Omar Irshad at Langworthy Medical Practice, Ben described having ‘an irregular heartbeat feeing which left him light-headed or unsteady at times’.
But the GP told the hearing Ben described himself as ‘happy’ and that his symptoms ‘didn’t seem to fit’ with anxiety or a panic attack.
Had he known Ben had expressed concerns over anxiety to the university counselling service, Dr Omar may have been more likely to ask after his mental health.
However, on November 19, Ben’s body was found in his room after friends reported they had not heard from him since the previous day.
A post mortem examination found a blood alcohol level of 100mg per 100ml – enough for an average social drinker to be ‘moderately intoxicated’.
Journal entries were later found that showed ‘methodical’ planning behind his death.
Mr Pollard told the inquest that the suicide thoughts should have been shared with his GP and said the university should consider changing the way it shares student health information.
He recorded Ben’s death was a suicide, saying he gave ‘no real clues’ to his tutors or parents that he was struggling.
Ben explained on a form that he thought about suicide ‘most nights’, but said he did not ‘treat these thoughts super seriously
It comes as as a group of 25 bereaved families have secured 100,000 signatures in an online petition calling for the law to be changed so universities have a legal duty of care towards their students.
Among them are the parents of Natasha Abrahart, who successfully sued Bristol University over her 2018 suicide.
Backing the calls for change, Mrs Sharrott said: ‘We do feel he was let down – when someone says they’re having suicidal feelings, surely that’s got to be taken seriously.’
She said Ben – a keen guitarist – was ‘quiet and sensitive’ with a ‘dry sense of humour’ and had lots of friends.
‘We miss him every day,’ she added.
A spokesman for the University of Salford said staff had been ‘deeply saddened’ by his tragic death, but insisted it had ‘extremely well-developed systems of student wellbeing and support with experienced and dedicated staff’.
They added: ‘We are constantly looking for ways to improve and even before the inquest took place, we had opened and progressed discussions with local medical practices about how we might better share information in relevant cases.’
For confidential support call Samaritans on 116123 or visit www.samaritans.org
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