Parents of a Bristol university student who killed himself ‘unexpectedly’ said the university had not told them he was suffering from low moods and depression.
James Thomson, a second-year Maths student, was only 20 years old when he was found dead by a close friend in his bedroom, having been battling depression for 18 months.
Mr Thomson, who had appeared on TV show Countdown in the last year of his life, was the seventh student from Bristol’s universities to have taken his own life in a year.
During an inquest into his death yesterday his parents questioned why Bristol University did not do more to get in touch with them when they found out he was suffering from depression.
James Thomson, 20, a second-year Maths student who had appeared on Countdown, was found dead by a close friend in his bedroom, having been battling depression for 18 months
Avon Coroners Court heard Mr Thomson had gone to the student health services and been prescribed medication by them before his death.
Mr Thomson, who started at Bristol in 2015, was described as a well-liked scholar, while teachers at Northampton School for Boys talked about his kindness and sense of humour.
He appeared on the Channel 4 show Countdown in December 2016 with Bristol students cheering him on as they watched the episode on a big screen.
On the day of his death, October 24 last year, Mr Thomson had come home from watching football at Ashton Gate, where he watched his team Crystal Palace lose to Bristol City.
He was in a low mood when he returned and did not acknowledge his housemate Alexandra Day who thought he was unhappy at the result and decided to let him be.
In her statement to court, Ms Day said she tried knocking on his door the following day at 1.30pm, but got no reply and started getting worried for him as he had previously told her he was on antidepressants.
Another friend, James Lockyear, came to the house that evening and heard no reply when he banged on Mr Thomson’s door and found him dead when he forced it open.
Mr Thomson, who started at Bristol in 2015, was described as a well-liked scholar, while teachers at Northampton School for Boys talked about his kindness and sense of humour
His parents said going from a class size of 15 at school to large lecture halls at university left him struggling to integrate. In February 2016 he failed exams and was recommended to take a year out.
‘We wanted to talk to his tutors but he said he would do so instead,’ his parents, Alastair and Diana, said in their statement to court.
His parents said they were shocked to find tablets in his room over Christmas and Mr Thomson admitted he had been on them for a while.
‘Between January and June [2017] we were not aware he got any further support or counselling from the student mental health service,’ his parents said.
Mr Thomson had resumed his studies in September last year after passing exams, and his parents said he had seemed in good spirits in the days before his death.
They said: ‘At no point did he give any indication of intention to end his life. James’s death was completely unexpected and was a shock to us all.
Mr Thomson had resumed his studies in September last year after passing exams, and his parents said he had seemed in good spirits in the days before his death
‘We became aware in the academic year of 2016/17 that five Bristol University students took their own lives. We do not know if the university had identified or helped students at risk and if they did, we do not know if this was followed.
‘No attempts were made to contact us to help assess his mental health while he was alive.’
A video shared on Facebook shows one of Mr Thomson’s friends, called Tom, opening up about the heartbreak of losing him.
He said: ‘Over the last few months that I knew him it seemed like he was fine.
You never expect that to happen to one of your close friends, especially when they seem, as far as I was aware, like he was better and he was alright.
‘When I go with the friends that we shared to have a game of pool or go to watch the match or do a pub quiz, he would always be there.
‘So you know, things that would normally cheer you up when something bad happens, kind of make you feel worse in a way, because you’re sat there thinking why isn’t James here?’
The court heard Mr Thomson had gone to the student health service in October 2016, having regular check-ups and increasing his medication the following January. He did not mention suicide and last went to the health centre for an ankle sprain months before his death.
Mr Thomson’s personal tutor, Dr John Mackay, told the court in a statement that he was aware of his academic problems, but did not know he was suffering from low moods and depression.
In his conclusion, assistant coroner Dr Peter Harrowing ruled that Mr Thomson’s death was suicide.
Dr Harrowing said: ‘His parents are understandably shocked at the sad loss of their son, and raised concerns about whether anything else could have been done.’
Mr Thomson was the seventh university student – six from Bristol University and one from the University of the West of England – to have taken their own life in a year.
Dr Harrowing said their deaths were ‘not linked’, and decided against writing to the university to recommend other prevention strategies.
The court heard Mr Thomson had gone to the student health service in October 2016, having regular check-ups and increasing his medication the following January
Referring to university documents, he said he was assured Bristol University had everything in place to prevent further deaths, including allowing students to declare if they have mental health issues before enrolment.
He said: ‘The university has an open culture and anybody can raise concerns about fellow students or individuals so they can be acted upon,’ Dr Harrowing added.
‘It does provide the necessary support for students throughout their studies. Sadly some students will choose not to avail themselves to that support.’
Mark Ames, director of Student Services at the university, said: ‘On behalf of the university, I would like to offer sincere condolences to James’s family and friends. Our thoughts are with them at this very sad time. Our student support services are available to support anyone affected.’
For confidential support in the UK, call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see samaritans.org for details.
Seven suspected suicides in a year
James Thomson’s death last October came after six other Bristol students, five at the University of Bristol and one from UWE, are thought to have taken their own lives in the space of a year.
Not pictured is history student Daniel Green, 18, who died during his first year of university.
Sam Symons (left), 19, was a law student at UWE who died over the Bank Holiday weekend in May, while Miranda Williams (right), died during her first year at Bristol
Kim Long (left), 18, died while in his first term studying law at Bristol, while Lara Nosiru (right), 23, was found dead during her last year studying neuroscience
Elsa Scaburri, 21, died at her home in Salisbury, Wiltshire, halfway through a year of study abroad