Preparing university staff to respond to student deaths, including suicide

Claire Bridgman

Principal Associate, Mills & Reeve LLP

Claire has over 10 years of experience in healthcare law. She started her legal career representing NHS Trusts in clinical negligence claims and during medical inquests. Since then, Claire has broadened her expertise and now offers advice on mental health and mental capacity matters. She continues to represent a variety of clients during inquests and enjoys advising and representing her education clients as part of this. Claire enjoys helping clients and witnesses navigate the increasingly complex legal landscape of coronial law, she is mindful of the interactions organisations have with local NHS Trusts and the potential for reputational risk to organisations. Claire aims to help minimise such risks and any associated stress for her clients, and she prides herself on being personable, supportive and approachable. Claire also has many years of experience in delivering training to clients through seminars and lectures.

: https://www.mills-reeve.com/people/claire-bridgman

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Siân Jones-Davies

Principal Associate, Mills & Reeve LLP

Siân specialises in education, public law and regulatory matters. She has extensive experience of providing legal, regulatory, governance and strategic advice to clients in the higher education, further education and schools sectors. She advises on a range of student-related issues including student contracts and “CMA” / consumer law, complaints and court claims (including for judicial review, breach of contract, duty of care and discrimination), misconduct and discipline, fitness to practise, natural justice and procedural fairness, student mental health, duty of care and safeguarding, and harassment and sexual misconduct. Siân reviews student regulations, policies and procedures and advises on their fair implementation in practice. She is a regular speaker at education sector events and delivers training and workshops to clients. Siân is recognised in Legal 500 as a leading associate.

: https://www.mills-reeve.com/people/sian-jones-davies

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Dr Simon Merrywest

Executive Director for the Student Experience, University of Manchester

Dr. Simon Merrywest has been Executive Director for the Student Experience at The University of Manchester since 2017. His team support students through their journey from recruitment to graduation, including the extensive provision of student wellbeing and more specialist support.  They also run a large residential and sport portfolio and operate four overseas centres. He is also co-sponsor of the university’s ambitious residential redevelopment programme. Simon’s previous roles include Director of Faculty Operations for the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health.

Simon co-edited and co-authored the UUK, PAPYRUS and Samaritans HE Postvention Guidance, published in December 2022, to guide HE senior leaders to respond sensitively and quickly after an unexpected student death by suspected suicide. He co-authored and edited more recent guidance: ‘Collective responsibility, collective action to prevent student suicide; Guidance for the higher education sector to reduce risk and restrict access to means of suicide’. He is co-chair of the Greater Manchester Student Mental Health Service Board and was a member of the Expert Advisory Group for the National Confidential Inquiry review of suspected student suicides as well as the TASO Mental Health and Wellbeing Advisory Group.

: https://www.staffnet.manchester.ac.uk/dse/about/our-people/simonmerrywest/
: /simon-merrywest-2852823b

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Ian Munton

Director of Student Services, Aberystwyth University

Ian is an AMOSSHE Executive Member and Director of Student Services at Aberystwyth University.

: https://www.amosshe.org.uk/about/our-team.html

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Andy Shanks

Director of Student Wellbeing, The University of Edinburgh

Andy is an AMOSSHE Executive Member and Director of Student Wellbeing at the University of Edinburgh.

: https://www.amosshe.org.uk/about/our-team.html

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Dr Dominique Thompson

Independent Mental Health Consultant, Buzz Consulting

Dr Dominique Thompson is a multi-award winning former GP, young people's mental health expert, TEDx speaker, author and educator, with over two decades of NHS clinical experience.

Dom now works as an independent mental health consultant and speaker, whilst holding roles including; President of the Student Health Association, membership of the UK government’s Higher Education Mental Health Implementation Taskforce, and Clinical Advisor to NICE and Student Minds.

She is author of The Student Wellbeing Series (Trigger Press) for young people, and co-author of How to Grow a Grown Up (PenguinRandomHouse) for parents.

Dom has done two TEDx talks; ‘What I learnt from 78000 GP consultations with university students’  and ‘Understanding Why’.

She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA).

For information about Dom’s work as a consultant and speaker see www.buzzconsulting.co.uk and check out www.growingagrownup.com for free parenting blogs and resources.

: www.buzzconsulting.co.uk
: /dominique-thompson/

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