Cambridge University It is reviewing its support for students after five suicide or suspected suicide cases in the last four months, it was revealed today.
Daniel Fry, 20, a second-year historian, and Yasmin Lajoie, a first-year student of human, social and political science, have both died in tragic circumstances since March.
Senior Pro-Vice Chancellor for Education Professor Graham Kanya told the deaths This has ‘upset the entire university community’ and they are working with the NHS and public health agencies to review ‘what happened and what lessons’. [are] that we can learn’.
Five deaths at the university occurred between March and June this year – one has been confirmed as suicide by the coroner – with the remaining four currently being treated as suspected suicides.
Danielle Fry died in March 2022 and Yasmin Lajoie died in May along with two other students. There was also another suspected suicide in June.
Mr Frau Was ‘to end up as one of the most accomplished students in his year’ and in his case the coroner, Simon Milburn, said there was ‘absolutely no indication that he was struggling’.
Daniel Fry, 20, a second-year historian, died in March. His suicide is one of four cases that will form part of a review by the University of Cambridge
Yasmin Lajoi, 34, a first year human, social and political science student, also took her own life, according to friends.
His death sparked a wave of mourning – students described how Belfast historians would go out of their way to help people settle in Cambridge.
A friend, Ashley, said: ‘Daniel had a tradition where he would challenge us to see who could make the most friends. His record was 14. I think I had two. Everyone who met him fell in love with him.
His study director and supervisor, Dr. Bill Foster, described his last observation with Daniel, a few days before his death.
He said: ‘I had never seen him happy. We both knew he wrote his best essay ever. And he is saying something. He fearlessly decided to take the study of humanity at its worst. I have seen that the horrors of studying war and genocide are often understood by even the most humane, humble souls, because they understand what is at stake. Daniel was a historian, which is the highest honor for me.
An investigation into his death revealed that he had no contact with college counseling services. His doctor confirmed that there was no history of mental health problems.
Claire Curran, head of the Survivors of Suicide charity that supports Danielle’s family, said: ‘Like any family that is bereaved by suicide, they are devastated, distraught, deeply hurt, what really happened have been struggling to get their head about it; Immense sorrow This is not the kind of death one would ever want to experience.’
Yasmin Lajoi passed away a few days after her 34th birthday. Friends of the first year student said that she took her own life, but this has not been confirmed in an inquiry so far.
Her mother, Vicky Taylor, said: ‘My beautiful, smart daughter Yasmin was always very special and made me and her family very proud. She was a fierce campaigner for those less fortunate than her.
‘We are all devastated by his death. He will be greatly missed by his family, which includes grandparents, me, brothers, uncles, cousins and his nieces and nephews. I just hope Yasmin has found peace now.
The University of Cambridge is conducting a review and will invest more in supporting students
The sad number of suicides and suspected suicides in the last four months. As per the recent FOI request, this is the same number that the university has suffered in the last four years.
Professor Graham Virgo told the BBC: ‘We already have training in suicide prevention and we want to make sure the training is as good as possible.
‘We consider the deaths of all the students at the University of Cambridge to be tragic and very worrying. We are not in a position to speculate as to what happened in these cases.
‘But we are engaging very carefully with the entire student population, with professionals within and outside the university to understand what is going on. I am not in a position to say that this is a particular reason.
‘It’s undoubtedly complicated, but it’s something we’re seeing across the country and certainly across the university sector.’
He said Cambridge would now look to ‘increased investment in university counseling services and dedicated welfare counselors at colleges to enable early identification of students in distress’.
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