Students excited to be leaving home for the first time and starting their university journey face a whole new environment to enjoy, learn and navigate. Without parental support and guidance on hand, making friends, trying new activities and throwing themselves into university life, Freshers' Week presents opportunities for students but also increases risks, particularly concerning mental health and safety.
Looking at the main challenges arising from this busy period for students, a timely reminder of some of the present and emerging new risks that Higher Education establishments face in 2025 during Freshers' week is appropriate.
Is it time to revisit the following areas?
Alcohol safety and hazing
Hazing is defined as "any activity expected of someone in joining or participating in a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers them regardless of their willingness to participate”. It is generally considered a form of initiation that often involves degrading or dangerous tasks. Liability risks exist for establishments that do not take action to prevent occurrences of this nature
Use the Summer break and new terms to consider a review of risk assessments in respect of Hazing: it can involve physical injury, assault, humiliation, forced consumption of substances, and other harmful actions.
Robust assessments should be in place and communicated throughout the student communities to prevent such behaviours, whether in relation to sports and or other clubs, or generally in relation to the student community.
Ensure adequate training for all staff on the risks of spiking and or hazing, how to spot these, prevent them, and how to report and react to suspected incidents.
Signposting for students to report any concerns in respect of these or similar behaviours' should be clear.
Recommendations
- Provide an induction for all first-year students covering the risks of consuming alcohol in large quantities including guidance on caring for those who are drunk, and an explanation of the link between initiation events and the risk of serious harm, injury or death.
- Reinforce induction messages at the beginning of each academic year.
- Provide training to all staff to enable them to reinforce the messages above.
- Implement a prohibition on initiation events if you have not already done so and communicate widely.
Alcohol consumption and general safety
Any Higher education establishments that operate licensed premises should take the summer months to review their practices and training in relation to alcohol consumption and to consider whether staff will include new students at the start of the educational year.
- Ensure everyone is familiar with emergency procedures and what to do in the event of incidents. Use specific examples in your training such as fire or social disorder.
- Make sure CCTV systems are in full working order and recording, consider the appropriate period of time to retain footage. 28 days is a recommended minimum. This can be crucial evidence in the event of an incident or claim.
- Minimise the use of glasses/ bottles where possible.
- Check Licence conditions and discuss any concerns with local police or Authority Licensing teams.
- Consider if any larger events require a revised entry system and additional security support that should be provided by Registered (SIA) door staff only, not students.
- Run refresher training for existing staff and ensure all materials are updated if required.
- Remind staff of procedures on age identification.
Promote safety
Ask for Angela
Ask for Angela aims to ensure anyone who is feeling vulnerable or unsafe is able to get support. The scheme works by training staff in vulnerability management and what to do when someone “Asks for Angela.”
Walk Safe App
WalkSafe+ is a leading personal safety app with map and journey sharing features. People who download WalkSafe can use it with family and friends, commuting to and from work, during social activities, on nights out and during exercise.
Mental health and well being of students
There is a statutory duty of care under the Equality Act 2010 and, in Northern Ireland, under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, for universities to proactively consider what adjustments may be reasonable if there are mental health issues which affect a student's ability to access their curriculum.
The mental health and wellbeing of university students has become an increasing issue and area of concern post Covid. In the 2022 survey by Student Minds, 57% of students self-reported a mental health issue and 27% said they had a diagnosed mental health condition. The dropout rate of students is increasing year on year and there are approximately 10,000 more students per annum dropping out part way through university now than 5 years ago. [University dropout rates reach new high, figures suggest - BBC News]
The Abrahart case [The University Of Bristol v Abrahart [2024] EWHC 299 (KB) (14 February 2024)] is understood to be the first time that a court has recognised disability discrimination (under the Equality Act 2010) as having contributed to a person’s death. The precedent it sets has the potential to have a significant impact. Depression and Social Anxiety Disorder qualify as a ‘disability’ for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010.
It is clear that HM Coroners Courts has been using stronger language and passing comment on matters relating to mandatory training on suicide prevention and mental health awareness, the extent and or the lack of proactivity in providing support and where the level of awareness and understanding of academic staff around the mental health of students had not been sufficient.
The largest-ever national review into student suicides in Higher Education, examining over 160 cases of suspected suicide or self-harm during the 2023/24 academic year, has been published. The review was conducted by the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Safety in Mental Health (NCISH) and aimed to understand how responses to students in urgent need of help are provided and to help identify areas for improvement.
The review found that undergraduates made up the majority of cases, with first-year students and international students being particularly vulnerable. The findings point to key transition periods as times of increased risk, when students may struggle with adapting to university life, being away from home, or navigating a new country and culture. [Supporting students in crisis: how we’re supporting students with their mental health and suicide prevention – The Education Hub 21.05.25]
The government is also taking several steps to drive change including the extension of the Higher Educational Mental Health Implementation Taskforce beyond this summer, in addition to expanding the taskforce membership to include the NUS and appointing a new Higher Education Student Support Champion.
Recommendations
- Improve staff training on mental health awareness and suicide prevention: The numbers indicate a pressing need for improved support services. Enhanced training for staff on mental health and crisis management is crucial for effectively supporting students during their transition into university life.
- The need for clear signposting for students to counselling, trauma services and safety initiatives. Strengthen information sharing between academic and non-academic teams.
- Review and communicate support and appropriate channels for vulnerable students and staff.
- Many students experience significant financial pressures, which can contribute to their overall stress and mental health challenges. Taking time to review the level and effectiveness of financial support and services available may assist and ensure signposting is effective.
Social media and trending activities – watch out for the bad
All environments where young people interact will be impacted by social media. It is important that there is awareness of trending activity relevant to your environment. Establishments should ensure that any activity that may be organised, including recruitment for social media stunts, promotes the health, safety and wellbeing of students, particularly where young adults may be recruited from a student environment in an unrelated social media stunt or activity.
We recommend advice should be routinely given in Freshers’ week to all students about promoting their own online safety. It is all too easy for students to get caught up in a flurry of social media comments or an event that would not be classed as a normal part of student life. Changing trends of what is socially acceptable content can bring the most sheltered students to the forefront of a social media storm and harmful unintended consequences.
- Be vigilant of banned activities or social media promotion of independent events likely to cause reputational damage or harm to the educational establishment or its staff and students.
- Is there a reporting route for students or staff who have social media concerns?
The use of e Scooters on campus and in halls
As a relatively cheap and easily accessible form of transport there is an ever increasing use of these forms of transport. Unless hired under an approved scheme and being used on a public highway Electric scooters bought privately and used on public land or private property without the landowners consent remains illegal and creates a substantial risk or injury or fire damage if being used/stored or charged in and around campuses, halls and student buildings.
- Ensure you have a clear and communicated policy around whether permission is given for the use of this transport on private property and whether there is adequate oversight as to the level of use of any privately purchased e scooters on campus in breach of your policies.
- Are there clear notices as to the use/charging and storage of illegal e-Scooters on private and public premises.
- Review the risks of storage of unregulated scooters in Halls or buildings under your control and the fire risks associated with Lithium batteries.
- Ensure your policy is clear and communicated as to whether these types of popular transport are permissible and under what circumstances. Are legal hire scooters available? Are storage, return and charging methods safe? And rules communicated and risk assessments done, if permitted?
Finally
- Summer break is a good time to reconsider risk assessments in respect of clubs and societies.
- Consider utilising external expertise, if required, to sense check risk assessments where there is insufficient internal expertise or where the risk of harm or injury is greater, such as contact sports and specialist events being considered.
- Reconsider the use of age appropriate rules, supervision, and protective equipment use in contact sports.
With special thanks to Paul Francis, Claims Manager at UMAL for his insight.
