lawrota.com

In a potentially groundbreaking legal case unfolding over the next three days in the High Court, the tragic death of Natasha Abrahart, a University of Bristol student, five years ago takes center stage. This pivotal case follows a landmark ruling last year that found the university failed to adequately support Natasha, who struggled with social anxiety, ultimately resulting in her untimely demise.

The High Court is now scrutinizing the case after a judge at the Bristol County Court awarded Natasha’s family £50,000 in damages, highlighting the university’s failure to provide sufficient assistance to a student battling mental health issues. Natasha, a 20-year-old from Nottingham, was found unresponsive on the day she was scheduled to give a presentation.

Despite the university’s assertion that it does its utmost to support students facing mental health challenges, Natasha’s parents, Bob and Maggie, successfully argued that the institution did not do enough. The court heard of a significant deterioration in Natasha’s mental health in the months leading to her tragic demise.

Since the initial ruling, the University of Bristol was granted permission to appeal the decision, contesting the breach of the Equality Act. Natasha’s father was also allowed to appeal the judgment that the university didn’t owe his daughter a ‘duty of care in negligence.’

The university asserts that the appeal is not against the Abrahart family, expressing deep sorrow for their loss and not contesting the damages awarded. Instead, they seek clarity on how the Equality Act applies when staff are unaware of a student’s disability or before diagnosis.

Despite efforts by the university to provide support, the judgment suggests that more could have been done, causing concern among staff about additional responsibilities beyond their educational roles. The appeal aims to safeguard the Higher Education sector’s understanding of the Equality Act application and to foster transparency in supporting students while ensuring the mental health of staff providing pastoral support.

Source:High Court to rule on potentially landmark case after death of Bristol Uni student | News – Greatest Hits Radio (Bristol & The South West) (planetradio.co.uk)

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