Mared opened an email and hours later she was dead - her parents want to make sure a catastrophic mistake can never happen again
by David Powell, Taite Johnson · Wales OnlineMared Foulkes opened the email from Cardiff University informing the 21-year-old that she had failed an exam on her pharmacy course with a score of 39%.
The email failed to mention that she had also passed an exam resit with a mark of 61%. Hours later, on July 8 2020, Mared took her own life.
An inquest in Caernarfon a year later concluded that Mared had intended death to be the outcome of her actions. The coroner issued a Prevention of Future Deaths report as a result of the "complicated and confusing" way the university communicated exam results.
After losing their daughter to suicide Mared's parents are now calling for students to receive better care.
Iona and Glyngwyn Foulkes, of Menai Bridge, are supporting a call for a new law that will mean universities are obliged to to establish an "opt-in" student consent procedure. This would allow a university to contact parents or guardians at a time of mental health or wellbeing crisis.
Mental health support
Helplines and support groups
- Samaritans (116 123) operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year. If you prefer to write down how you're feeling, or if you're worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans at jo@samaritans.org.
- Childline (0800 1111) runs a helpline for children and young people in the UK. Calls are free and the number won't show up on your phone bill.
- PAPYRUS (0800 068 41 41) is an organisation supporting teenagers and young adults who are feeling suicidal.
- Mind (0300 123 3393) is a charity based in England providing advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.
- Students Against Depression is a website for students who are depressed, have a low mood or are having suicidal thoughts.
- Bullying UK is a website for both children and adults affected by bullying.
- Young Persons Advisory Service – Providing mental health and emotional wellbeing services for Liverpool’s children, young people and families. tel: 0151 707 1025 email: support@ypas.org.uk
Mrs Foulkes said: "Mared was very studious even though she was quiet and reserved. She was very determined."
Receiving the information by email that should couldn't continue to the third year of her four-year Masters course was "devastating", said Mrs Foulkes. "Mared was a very quiet, shy, young woman and I think she was very embarrassed and ashamed by that," she added.
"There was nothing in the email to state where to get support or that 'If you had such and such a mark please don't panic, we'll come back to you' or 'Please come back to us immediately' or 'They could verify the mark within a few hours'.
"There was nothing. Just 'FAIL'. I think they should have more stringent regulations when releasing exam results," Mrs Foulkes said.
After losing her child, Mrs Foulkes is involved with a support group of bereaved parents called "For the 100." he said: "We have 100 students dying every year within universities. We didn't realise (it was that many).
"In the news you hear of tragic car accidents but you only occasionally hear about students. It's because they don't want the general public to know because it's bad publicity and students wouldn't want to go to that university."
However, while a new law is not yet in place, a report by lawyers and others, supporting bereaved families likes the Foulkes, has found cardiff-university>Cardiff University has taken steps to change things since Mared's death. The report, called "Student Suicide Prevention in Higher Education: Some observations from Wales", states: "Encouragingly Cardiff University have introduced the ‘Trusted Contact’ procedure.
"A trusted contact is someone the University can contact if there are serious concerns about a student’s health or wellbeing. Importantly, in exceptional circumstances, where there is grave concern about the wellbeing of the student, the trusted contact can be contacted without the express consent of the student."
Cardiff University did not refer to a proposed new law but said students get "clear communication about correct results" now.
A spokesperson for Cardiff University said: "We have put in place detailed change...The changes were reported to our regulator, HEFCW (now Medr), and to the Charity Commission.
"The action plan has been subject to two independent internal audits, the most recent of which in September 2024 provided substantial assurance that results processing activities are designed and operating effectively to ensure students receive clear communication of the correct results in a timely and efficient manner."
The spokesperson said the university has written to Mared's family to invite them to meet its new Vice-Chancellor and its Academic Registrar who can discuss and provide a detailed update to any questions the family has regarding the implementation of changes made. Cardiff University also said it had to balance students' and families' needs.
On a proposed system where a student opts out if they don't want their parents to be informed of any personal issues, a spokesperson said: "We understand and respect the call for the introduction of an opt-out system for universities.
"However, universities need to balance the legitimate needs of parents to be informed about their children while respecting the rights, privacy and wishes of adult students who may - for a variety of legitimate and complex reasons - not want their personal information to be shared with their parents. For some students, a decision made at enrolment in favour of opt-in may well change by the time an issue presents which may be shared with a parent or other trusted contact."
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