We have seen and learned many things through the Coronavirus pandemic, among those lessons is the realisation that there is blatant and obvious neglect of the importance of student mental health at universities nationwide. There has not only been an absence of support for students both generally and for those in crisis, but the decision-makers at the top have repeatedly failed to even acknowledge the effect their decisions have on the mental wellbeing of students.

The result of this failure is a fatal one.

Alongside HUMEN, an incredible UK mental health charity that I am very proud to support, we are calling for change. We are advocating for a university league table that focuses on mental health support, a table that informs students and parents searching for a university of which will provide not only quality education but will also care for their students beyond their studies.

Statistically, the greatest risk to the life of a male student at university is suicide [1]. That's the chilling reality of the situation. Without proper change, we will continue to see these deaths occur, we will continue to see students failed by their universities and we will continue to see universities get away with providing the bare minimum, with the most tragic of consequences.

It is therefore vital that we now appeal for greater accountability in this area.

This petition may not seem it, but the result of its success could be transformational. It would mean that in order for a university to be recognised as one of the best in the country, not only would they have to provide some of the best teaching and academic support, but importantly, they must also provide some of the best mental health support. The success of this petition would create a landslide culture change, away from mental health support being viewed as a necessary investment but instead as an area to upscale in, to innovate in, and to excel in.

We must highlight the need for this change, we must make universities accountable in this area because there are many hundreds of future students that don't know it, but desperately depend on this change. Many hundreds of future students who without this change will inevitably follow the same tragic path to mental illness and suicide.

So please, sign and share this petition and show support for this vital change.

Thank you.