The High Court has rejected the University of Bristol’s appeal against an earlier judgment that it contributed to the death of a student by discriminating against her.
(CW: Suicide, depression, mental health)
Natasha Abrahart died by suicide on 30 April 2018, the day that she was due to give a presentation to fellow students and staff in a 329-seat lecture theatre.
The second-year undergraduate physics student, originally from Nottingham, had been diagnosed with chronic Social Anxiety Disorder in February 2018.
Natasha had been a high-achieving student until her second year at university – but in October 2017, academic staff became aware that she was struggling and was experiencing anxiety and panic attacks in relation to oral assessments that formed part of a laboratory module.
In February 2018, a university employee received an email from Natasha’s account saying, “I’ve been having suicidal thoughts and to a certain degree attempted it”.
Natasha’s father, Robert Abrahart, brought a legal action against the university alleging it had contributed to his daughter’s death by discriminating against her on the grounds of Disability contrary to the Equality Act 2010, and by breaching a duty of care owed her under the law of negligence.
