Student Suicide

The request was partially successful.

Dear University of Dundee,

Please provide me with information on the following:
1. For each of the past five academic years (2004-05 to 2008-09), how many University of Dundee students have committed suicide while a student at the university?
2. Please provide a breakdown by gender for each year.
3. What suicide-prevention strategies does the University currently have in place?
4. How many students have approached the university's student support services (for each of the past five academic years 2004-05 to 2008-09) for support to deal with each of the following issues:
4.1 Self-harm
4.2 Eating disorders
4.3 Stress, anxiety or depression
4.4 Drug or alcohol issues
4.5 Mental health issues not included in categories 4.1-4.4?
Please provide a breakdown by gender for each category for each year.

Thank you for your help.

Yours faithfully,

Ben Archibald

freedomofinformation freedomofinformation, University of Dundee

Dear Mr Archibald,

Thank you for your request for information from the University of
Dundee. Colleagues in student services have provided the information
below in response to your questions. Where information is not held
please treat this email as notice of that under S.17 of the Freedom of
Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

1. For each of the past five academic years (2004-05 to 2008-09), how
many University of Dundee students have committed suicide while a
student at the university?

The University does not keep records of the numbers of students who
take their own lives. However, the Director of Student Services has
indicated that as far as she is aware there was one instance of a
student committing suicide in 2008-09 and two in the year 2004-2005. She
is aware of no other suicides in the intervening years.

2. Please provide a breakdown by gender for each year.

This information is not held

3. What suicide-prevention strategies does the University currently
have in place?

Student Services aims to educate as many members of the University and
wider community as possible to promote positive mental health and
wellbeing and identify and respond quickly to distress and ill health,
as both strands are important in terms of suicide prevention strategy.
The University undertakes to focus on both students and staff in this
regard.

The University offers suicide awareness and intervention training to
students and staff of the University of Dundee which utilises course
materials developed by Living Works, Canada, and supported by Choose
Life, a Scottish Government national initiative.

There are currently three levels of course delivery:

suicideTALK (Tell Ask Listen Keep safe) – 2 hour awareness session
safeTALK – 3 hour alertness session
ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) – 2 day course

All current Student Support Assistants have been trained in suicideTALK
or in ASIST, and this training has always been an integral part of their
SSA training along with the Peer Connections training. During the period
2005–April 2010 1129 students and staff have been trained in suicide
awareness and 64 in intervention.

The Student Services web-sites contains information relating to suicide
prevention including a list of useful contacts and training sessions -
http://www.dundee.ac.uk/studentservices/...

The University is working with the Dundee and Angus Mental Health
Coordinator to embed current levels of training and support within the
institution and the wider community.

Mental health training is also provided to groups not involved in
formal student support roles on a regular basis.

4. How many students have approached the university's student support
services (for each of the past five academic years 2004-05 to 2008-09)
for support to deal with each of the following issues:
4.1 Self-harm
4.2 Eating disorders
4.3 Stress, anxiety or depression
4.4 Drug or alcohol issues
4.5 Mental health issues not included in categories 4.1-4.4?

The University does not keep information at the level of granularity
you specify. However, the following information is relevant to your
request:

Students disclosing mental health disorders to Disability Services

2004/5 - 32 (8 male; 24 female)
2005/6 - 33 (7 male; 26 female)
2006/7 - 31 (9 male; 22 female)
2007/8 - 37 (8 male; 29 female)
2008/9 - 38 (12 male; 26 female)

Number of persons seen by the Mental Health Nurse, University Health
Services

2004/5 - 36
2005/6 - 26
2006/7 - 38
2007/8 - 42
2008/9 - 32

Number of persons seen by the University Counselling Service

2007/08
Self-Harm - 16
Eating disorders - 6
Stress & anxiety - 107
Depression - 62
Drug or alcohol issues - 11
Other mental health conditions - 7

2008/09
Self Harm - 14
Eating disorders - 10
Stress & anxiety - 106
Depression - 60
Drug or alcohol issues - 4
Other mental health conditions - 11

I trust that this information is helpfu
l. If I can offer any
clarification please contact me.

Yours sincerely,

Alan Bell
Records Manager and
Information Compliance Officer

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Please consider the environment. Do you really need to print this
email?>>> Ben Archibald <[FOI #32977 email]>
18/04/2010 18:38 >>>
Dear University of Dundee,

Please provide me with information on the following:
1. For each of the past five academic years (2004-05 to 2008-09),
how many University of Dundee students have committed suicide
while
a student at the university?
2. Please provide a breakdown by gender for each year.
3. What suicide-prevention strategies does the University
currently
have in place?
4. How many students have approached the university's student
support services (for each of the past five academic years
2004-05
to 2008-09) for support to deal with each of the following
issues:
4.1 Self-harm
4.2 Eating disorders
4.3 Stress, anxiety or depression
4.4 Drug or alcohol issues
4.5 Mental health issues not included in categories 4.1-4.4?
Please provide a breakdown by gender for each category for each
year.

Thank you for your help.

Yours faithfully,

Ben Archibald


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