Bristol universities rocked by EIGHTH student suicide in just 18 months
Tragic third-year student Justin Cheng was found dead on January 12th, just weeks before lectures started again
A PROMISING law student has become the eighth university student in Bristol to take his own life in just 18 months.
Tragic third-year student Justin Cheng was found dead on January 12th, just weeks before lectures at the University of Bristol started again.
Director of student services Mark Ames said: I am very sorry to confirm that Justin Cheng, a third year Law student from Canada, has died.
"The police have told us they believe he took his own life. There were no suspicious circumstances and the coroner will hold an inquest in due course.
"Our thoughts and sympathies are with his family and friends.
"It is immensely distressing for members of our university community to learn that one of our students has died.
"We know that this will be especially difficult for those who knew and studied with Justin.
"We will continue to work with our students, staff and with partners across the city including colleagues from public health and the NHS to enhance our services in response to the unprecedented rise in mental health difficulties amongst young people.
Troubled Justin was the eighth student from Bristol's universities - seven from Bristol, one from UWE - who are thought to have taken their own lives in the last 18 months.
"Justin's family has requested privacy at this very difficult time."
EIGHT STUDENT SUICIDES IN 18 MONTHS
- Canadian third-year Law student Justin Cheng was found dead earlier this month.
- Lara Nosiru, 23, from Essex, was found on January 30 in a gorge beneath a 330ft bridge in Bristol
- Philosophy student Miranda Williams, 19, from Chichester struggled with anxiety and depression. Three weeks after leaving home, she is understood to have taken her own life on October 10.
- 18-year-old Daniel Green was found dead on October 21, reportedly after breaking up with his girlfriend.
- Less than a month later on November 10, Kim Long, an 18-year-old law student, was also found dead alongside a suicide note for his parents.
- James Thomson, 20, a Maths student who appeared on Countdown was found hanged in a house he shared with friends in the city.
- After going "downhill" during a year of studying abroad in Italy, Elsa Scaburri, 21, returned to the UK in January this year. The modern languages student was diagnosed with clinical depression and tragically hanged herself in an isolated barn a mile from her home.
- First-year student Sam Symons, 19, was studying law at the University of the West of England (UWE) was found dead in his room at a halls of residence.
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"Justin's family has requested privacy at this very difficult time."
Five suicides took place between October 2016 and in October 2017 alone.
Bristol University has undergone a review of its health services, pumping some £1million into its mental health and well-being services.
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans on (free) 116123 or 020 7734 2800.