Natasha Abrahart suicide: Bristol University told to pay parents £50k in damages over discrimination

A judge has ruled Bristol University discriminated against a student who took her own life.

Natasha Abrahart, who was originally from Nottinghamshire, was in her second year of a physics degree at the University of Bristol when she took her own life in April 2018. She was 20 years old.

Since childhood, Natasha had suffered from severe social anxiety and her parents - Bob and Maggie Abrahart - say the university did not do enough to accommodate her needs.

She died on the day she was due to give a presentation to a 329-seat lecture theatre audience.

In March, Natasha's parents sued Bristol University on the grounds of negligences and disability discrimination.

Today (20 May) a judge ruled the university discriminated against Natasha by failing to accommodate her mental health disability. He ordered the university to pay damages of £50,000.

In a written judgment issued at Bristol County Court, His Honour Judge Alex Ralton found the university breached its duties to make reasonable adjustments to the way it assessed Natasha.

He also said it engaged in indirect disability discrimination against Natasha and treated Natasha unfavourably because of the consequences of her disability. 

He found these breaches led to her death, noting that “it was accepted by the medical experts that the primary stressor and cause of Natasha’s depressive illness was oral assessment”.

'We finally have the truth' - Natasha's family react to the judge's ruling

Natasha's dad Robert Abrahart, a retired university lecturer, said: “After years of protestations from the university that it did all it could to support her, after having battled our way through an inquest and a civil trial, we finally have the truth: The University of Bristol broke the law and exposed our daughter to months of wholly unnecessary psychological trauma, as she watched her grades plummet, and her hopes for the future crumble before her eyes.”

Natasha's mum, Margaret, added: "We really hope that the University of Bristol will finally take its head out of the sand and recognise that now is the time for change. 

"We are ready to work with them to help ensure that the failings which led to Natasha’s death aren’t repeated so other families don’t have to suffer as we have suffered. 

"We hope they will apologise for the role they played in Natasha’s death and will take us up on our offer of help.”

What the university has said

In response, a University of Bristol spokesperson said: “Our whole university community has been deeply affected by Natasha’s tragic death and we would once again like to extend our sympathies to her friends and family.

“Like all universities, schools and colleges, we are deeply concerned by the increase of mental health issues amongst our young people nationally. We do our very best to support any student who is struggling with their mental health and have a wide range of services available."

They added the School of Physics - where Natasha was studying - worked "incredibly hard and diligently" to support her.

"It was due to their efforts that she was receiving specialist mental health support from the NHS," they added.

"Our staff’s efforts also included offering alternative options for Natasha’s assessments to alleviate the anxiety she faced about presenting her laboratory findings to her peers. We are very grateful to them for their endeavours on Natasha’s behalf and for their unwavering commitment to our students.  

“Alongside the support available, we have introduced an opt-in policy to alert a nominated contact when we have serious concerns about a student’s wellbeing and more robust procedures to assess students’ fitness to study. However, it is important that students receive appropriate specialist care under the NHS should they need it.

“We cannot replicate the NHS but are committed to working with the NHS and other partners to improve services and ensure we are collectively providing the best possible support for students.

“Given the significant impact this decision could have on how all higher education providers support their students, we are reviewing the decision carefully, including whether to appeal. In light of that review, it would not be appropriate to comment further on the judgment at the present time.”

Natasha was under the care of specialist mental health professionals at Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership when she died, which has since acknowledged the care it provided was inadequate.

• When life is difficult, Samaritans are here – day or night, 365 days a year. You can call them for free on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org, or visit www.samaritans.org to find your nearest branch

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