'Our daughter came to Bristol seeking a better, brighter future - instead, we lost her forever'

An inquest has ruled that a series of failures by mental health services contributed to the suicide of a vulnerable student at the University of Bristol.

Natasha Abrahart, originally from Nottingham, was in her second year when she took her own life on 30 April 2018.

Coroner Maria Voisin recorded a narrative conclusion, saying her death was contributed to by "gross failures" by the Avon and Wiltshire Partnership.

She is the ninth student to have died by suicide in the past three years.

Natasha, who was a second-year physics student, was due to give an assessed presentation in front of staff and students on the day she died.

Academic staff said they knew that she “suffered from anxiety and panic attacks” in relation to oral assessments.

However, a senior lecture told the inquest that “no changes were made” to her assessment on 30 April.

Avon and Wiltshire Partnership have apologised to Natasha's family and said they would take on board the coroner's recommendations.

The University of Bristol has released a statement:

The university continued: “Like all universities, schools and colleges, we are deeply concerned by the increase of mental health issues amongst our young people nationally. Complex mental health challenges cannot be addressed by universities alone, and we cannot be expected to replace the NHS.

"We are, however, fully committed to working with our partners in the NHS, charities and across the HE sector in a collaborative effort to ensure we are providing the best possible support to our students."