Father seeks student welfare shake-up after son’s death

The father of a student who’s believed to have taken his own life is calling for universities to be able to share more information with families. James Murray, whose son Ben died last month, wants it to be easier for institutions to contact parents if an individual is struggling.

Bristol University, where Ben was a student, says it is planning to introduce an opt-in scheme, which would allow next of kin to be contacted if there are serious concerns about a student’s wellbeing.