After a minister instructed universities to pledge their commitment to prioritizing mental health by September 2024, a grieving mother said she was "hopeful.".
When Jared became ill at Cambridge University, according to Jo Ndisang, he was not given the choice to take a break. He passed away the year after.
After receiving a petition calling for a legal duty of care toward all university and college students, MPs held a debate.
Ms. Ndisang expressed her gratitude for the support of the MPs.
More than 100,000 people signed the petition, which demanded that the current obligation of care to safeguard staff members and those under the age of 18 from "reasonably foreseeable harm" brought on by direct injury or inaction be extended to all students.
However, according to Universities UK, this would not be the most efficient, reasonable, or effective way to support students.
MPs mentioned incidents during the debate where parents were not informed of mental health issues and where students were told via email to leave universities.
Robert Halfon, minister of higher education, stated that while a legal duty of care "may not be the most effective intervention," he was "not closing the door on future legislation.".
The University Mental Health Charter is a set of guidelines created by the nonprofit Student Minds to assist institutions in giving mental health priority. He claimed he had written to universities asking them to sign up.
In April, Ms. Ndisang delivered that petition to Downing Street on behalf of a group of grieving families.
A 2019 inquest determined that her son's death "was caused by sudden cardiac death of undetermined cause," a year after he graduated from Cambridge.
After her son started experiencing mental health problems, she previously told the BBC that she thought Cambridge wanted to move the "problem" along.
"I'm feeling hopeful that our campaign has been seriously considered," she said following the Westminster Hall debate. In attendance were 23 MPs, all of whom agreed that universities should and could do more.
"We appreciate their recognition of the critical issues we have raised as well as their support.
"The Education Minister, Robert Halfon, concurred that universities have a responsibility to act honorably and that they should accept the challenge he posed and follow the sector's current guidelines.
"Mr. Halfon said that the industry should treat this seriously. I can only hope that [he] keeps his word.
"The issues are about practices and procedures at university and getting these right will ensure there is less negative impact on student mental health. Keep an eye on this space. ".
The Department for Education claimed before the debate that higher education institutions had a general obligation to "deliver educational and pastoral services" and that additional legislation "would be a disproportionate response.".
Nothing is more important to Cambridge University than the safety and wellbeing of its students, and the university recently unveiled a new plan that included "swifter access to counseling" and expanded support service capabilities.
