Natasha Abrahart: University of Bristol to appeal discrimination ruling
The 20-year-old student took her own life in April 2018 - earlier this year a judge ordered the University to pay Natasha's family £50,000 in damages
The University of Bristol is set to appeal against a ruling which found they did discriminate against a student suffering from severe social anxiety.
Natasha Abrahart, a 20-year-old student from Nottinghamshire, took her own life back in 2018, and was found to be unresponsive on the day she was due to present in front of a lecture hall - large enough to fill more than 300 students.
Following her death on April 30, a senior judge this year at Bristol's County Court ruled in favour of her family - sueing the institution on the basis of disability discrimination and negligence.
The ruling was made this year, in May - with her family awarded £50,000 in damages.
Today, a spokesperson for the University said: “After carefully considering the judgement and its implications for the higher education sector, we will be seeking leave from the High Court to appeal the judge’s finding that the University was in breach of the Equality Act.
“We would like to make it clear that this appeal is not against the Abrahart family, nor are we disputing the specific circumstances of Natasha’s death. We remain deeply sorry for their loss and we are not contesting the damages awarded by the judge.
“In appealing, we are seeking absolute clarity for the higher education sector around the application of the Equality Act when staff do not know a student has a disability, or when it has yet to be diagnosed."
During the trial back in May, Natasha's father - Mr 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."
In a written statement in that trial, His Honour Judge Alex Ralton ruled the university was not negligent but had breached its duties to make reasonable adjustments to the way it assessed Ms Abrahart.
The University say Natasha was under the care of specialist mental health professionals - with Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership since acknowledging that the care it provided was inadequate.
The University reflected on the judgement of the trial earlier this year, and added: “In Natasha’s case, academic and administrative staff assisted Natasha with a referral to both the NHS and our Disability Services, as well as suggesting alternative options for her academic assessment to alleviate the anxiety she faced about presenting her laboratory findings to her peers.
“However the judgement suggests they should have gone further than this, although Natasha's mental health difficulties had not been diagnosed.
“It is important that students and their families are clear on what universities can and cannot do, and that students receive appropriate specialist care under the NHS should they need it.”
They have also published a Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy - and say they are 'delivering' against their dedicated action plan across the institution.
If you have been impacted by this story and are struggling with your mental health, you can contact the Samaritans any time on 116 123.
You can find more support here.
Read more: University of Bristol discriminated against suicidal student, judge rules