Spate of five suspected suicides of Cambridge University students prompts urgent review
A SPATE of five suspected suicides of Cambridge University students in four months has prompted an urgent review.
One of the deaths — all between March and June — has been confirmed as a suicide while the others are still being investigated.
The university’s senior pro-vice-chancellor Professor Graham Virgo, said it was reviewing the deaths with a new “rapid incident response group”.
He said the university — ranked fifth in the world by Times Higher Education — would work with the group and mental health charity Mind
The ambulance service, police and coroner will also be involved.
Prof Virgo said in a statement: “We’re shocked and saddened by the deaths of five students.
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“Our thoughts are with the families and friends.
“I want to reassure you the university is taking this extremely seriously and is determined to work closely with partners to prevent future deaths.”
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He added the university would invest £5million a year to enhance mental health and wellbeing support.
Measures will be taken to cut counselling waiting times.
A team of wellbeing advisers is being set up to identify students in distress.
You're Not Alone
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
- Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk
- Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans, www.samaritans.org, 116 123
- Movember, www.uk.movember.com
- Anxiety UK www.anxietyuk.org.uk, 03444 775 774 Monday-Friday 9.30am-10pm, Saturday/Sunday 10am-8pm