Higher education student suicide prevention ‘requires urgent systemic improvement’

Commissioned by the Department for Education, the National Review of Higher Education Student Suicide Deaths (51 pages/2.3 MB) is the first comprehensive national investigation into student suicides, revealing systemic gaps in support and calling for urgent, coordinated action across the sector.

Stephanie Connelly, university and higher education specialist at Pinsent Masons, said: “This national review highlights the need for action such as ensuring timely access to support, especially around high-stress periods like exams, and equipping student-facing staff with robust, potentially mandatory, mental health and suicide prevention training. Embedding the report’s findings and recommendations into institutional culture and governance should now be a key consideration for universities.”

The review examined 89 student deaths by suicide between 2016 and 2023, alongside incidents of non-fatal self-harm and 107 suspected suicides reported during the 2023-24 academic year. It found that while many institutions had policies in place, there was often a disconnect between policy and practice, with inconsistent implementation of support systems and a lack of proactive intervention.

The report highlights that most students who died by suicide were not known to specialist mental health services at the times of their deaths. Many had experienced academic pressures, social isolation, or recent life events such as bereavement or relationship breakdowns. Over a third of the serious incidents reviewed explicitly referenced academic stress, particularly around exam period from March to May. The review also found that students who were struggling academically were often not identified as at risk, despite clear signs of distress. In some cases, students had submitted requests for mitigating circumstances or had been involved in ‘support to study’ procedures, yet these were not always followed up with adequate mental health support.

The report also highlighted that while some universities demonstrated good practice, others lacked clear protocols for identifying and responding to students in crisis as well as emphasising the over-reliance on students to self-refer for help.

Several recommendations have been made as a result, with the aim of improving student safety and wellbeing. This includes early detection, with institutions urged to develop systems to proactively identify students at risk, particularly those experiencing academic difficulties or social isolation. It also notes the need for improved communication, such as better coordination between academic staff, student services and external mental health providers, to ensure a joined-up approach to cases. Universities are also urged to foster a culture that prioritises wellbeing over performance, including reviewing assessment practices and promoting healthy work-life balance. Additionally, the report calls for the development of national guidelines on suicide prevention in higher education, including mandatory training for staff and clearer accountability structures.

Julian Sladdin, higher education expert at Pinsent Masons, said: “A sector-wide response in compassion, accountability and data-informed practice will be vital to driving meaningful and lasting change. This should also include a stronger focus on compassionate communication, as recommended by the Department for Education’s mental health taskforce, to ensure students are treated with empathy particularly in challenging situations such as course dismissal and poor exam results.”