The mother of Sheffield student who died is calling for a change in the law

‘Our son did not come to Sheffield to die’

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A mother of a Sheffield student who took his own life, is calling out for universities to offer more support to those at risk.

Oskar Carrick, 21, was a student at Sheffield Hallam University when he took his own life in June 2021. This occurred just less than two months prior to a previous attempt on his life in April of the same year, ITV reports.

Questions are being raised by his family to Sheffield Hallam in their role of safeguarding students and whether an act of negligence took place with his family not being informed of the attempt on his life in April 2021.

Maxine Carrick, Oskar’s mother, has signed a petition which calls for a legal duty of care to be put in place for universities to take more responsibility for the wellbeing of its students.

After the initial attempt to take his own life, Oskar was assessed by two mental health flow co-ordinators at Sheffield Northern General Hospital on the 24th April 2021. They deemed him to be “low risk” despite Oskar himself stating that he was not sorry for what he had done.

Eighteen months prior to his death, Oskar was the passenger of a car involved in a road traffic collision. The incident resulted in him sustaining a traumatic brain injury, which his mother believes affected his ability to connect with those around him.

With the addition of lockdown being enforced during the height of covid transmissions, Oskar was left without the ability to socialise with his friends which his mother believes have had a “detrimental effect on his wellbeing”.

Ms Carrick states there were at least five occasions which she believes the university should have notified her about the well-being of Oskar, but failed to do so.

On one of the occasions ,Oskar had consented to the well-being unit informing his family and GP of his condition, but neither of them were informed.

Maxine said: “Our son did not come to Sheffield to die, he came to learn skills and to meet friends. Oskar is not able to put his side of the story over, therefore as his parents it is out duty to give him a voice.”

A fund has been created by his parents to help finance legal representation, in an effort to raise questions at the inquest into Oskar’s death which is scheduled to take place on the 21st November.

A spokesperson for Sheffield Hallam University said: “In recent years we have significantly increased resources to provide access to a wide range of support services, whilst every student has access to dedicated advisors.

“The University also works closely with the Students’ Union, the city council and local health authorities to help keep our communities safe.”

Featured image via Facebook.

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