Proof – As If We Needed More – That The Wrong People Are Attending University

The parents of a student who killed herself after receiving inaccurate exam results are calling for universities to provide better support.

What? How exactly are universities to anticipate some snowflake topping herself over something so trivial...except, perhaps, by better screening of the people they let in? 

Mared Foulkes, from Anglesey, received an email in July 2020 saying that she had failed an assessment and could not progress to her third year – even though she had already re-sat it and passed.

Did she know she'd passed on the retake? The article doesn't make it clear. 

Mared’s family want to see a change in the law on how universities support students with mental health issues, and how they communicate with the families of students.

Mared’s mother, Iona Foulkes, said: “She came home that evening from work and we had a normal family meal.

“Then she decided she wanted to make a cheesecake and said she was going to the local supermarket and asked if I wanted anything.

"She took the car keys and left.”

Two police officers visited the house later that evening to tell her family that she had died.

How this could have been forseen by the university, if the family didn't suss it out, is anyone's guess.  

"She had worked so hard at her course," her mother added. "She had her heart set on becoming a pharmacist from a young age. She had done voluntary work in a hospital in the Philippines and been accepted to study in China.

“To be informed that you have failed two years of study and you couldn’t progress – it must have been horrific.

“You are talking about a 21-year-old, a young person getting this information.

Did she expect to go through life never encountering disappointment? If so, her family failed her.  

“It is a tragedy which should never have happened. It shouldn’t be. Something needs to change – quickly – before more families have to endure what we have to live with for the rest of our lives.”

Well, we could mandate mental health assessment before attendance? 

Nine months before Mared died, she had visited the university’s support services to discuss her mental health, but her family did not find out until a year after her death.

They had no idea? It's not like the university could breach her confidentiality and tell them, is it?  

Are We Allowing The Wrong People To Attend University?

Oxford University has been hit by a second sudden student death - just days after news of a tormented student killing himself made headlines. Neuroscience PHD student Cal Shearer, 25, who is said to have 'radiated warmth to all those around them', was found hanged in digs at St John's College in the city on October 30.

Oh, if only there had been some warning? 

Caring Cal, who was autistic and transgender, volunteered talking to callers to The Samaritans helpline, but privately battled with their own mental health struggles.

Truly, the blind leading the blind! What sort of parents produced this disaster, I wonder? 

Cal's parents, former Fast Show actor Paul Shearer and former former children's TV presenter turned actress and film producer Vicky Licorish are understood to have been left devastated - as is longtime family friend, acclaimed author Jeanette Winterson.

Aha! I suspect this is a clue... 

Imogen, Cal's long term friend, then partner and, last year, wife never left their side. 'Now working for the NHS, Imogen tried to secure Cal the right treatment for this all too prevalent but not yet understood crisis of suicides amongst autistic people identifying as trans.'

I think it's perfectly understood - unstable people do unstable things. I'll reserve my sympathy in her case, as I don't think anything of value was lost, unlike other cases:  

Alexander Rogers, known as Xander, found himself frozen out by his social circle after he had sex with a female friend who told other male students she had felt 'discomfort' about the encounter, a coroner heard. Despite having no intentions of reporting the incident, two male friends confronted the third year student, telling Alexander he had 'messed up' and they 'needed space from him'. The next day, the undergraduate jumped into the River Thames from Donnington Bridge and died from serious head injuries.

Poor guy should have realised his chosen 'social circle' weren't real friends at all, and he was well rid of them.  

The Department of Education has since been urged by coroner Nicholas Graham to review the 'cancel culture' phenomenon sweeping across university campuses in the UK.

What are they supposed to do about it?  

But We All Know It Won't Be...

In a prevention of future deaths report, coroner Laurinda Bower outlined numerous failings admitted by Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, including 'inadequate monitoring' as staff were 'distracted by the use of their personal mobile phones', even though it was prohibited on wards.

In the report sent to the trust last month, Ms Bower said she was concerned more people could die 'unless action is taken'.

Who is going to force that action to be taken, then? A report from the coroner isn't going to do it, is it? 

An inquest jury concluded in September that the failings had 'probably more than minimally' contributed to her death.

Her widower Michael, 49, of Rainworth, Nottinghamshire, said: 'When Michelle [seemingly] fell asleep, staff should have realised something was very wrong. Had they acted earlier Michelle would have been taken to ICU (intensive care unit) and put on a drip. That would have saved her life.

'By the time they realised what was happening, the same course of action was far too late.'

Mr Whitehead said his 'warm, caring and easy to love' wife had suffered a 'total breakdown from the person she normally is' in the last days of her life.

And no doubt he was reassured that she was in 'the best place' to treat her condition, when that was very far from the case... 

The trust admitted eight failings which also included staff failure to adhere to policy after Mrs Whitehead was sedated, leading to inadequate assessments of her. There was also a delay in a doctor arriving, and in admitting paramedics to the building.

Ifti Majid, chief executive of the trust, apologised to Mrs Whitehead's family for her 'quality' of care, and said the trust was considering the findings of the jury and coroner.

Why is no-one 'considering' whether this trust is still fit to run hospitals? Because we all know that no-one is... 

How Long Should They Have Closed For, Then?

Police were called and the shop temporarily closed but it reopened the next day - a decision which was heavily criticised by locals as putting 'profit above everything'.

They are a business, after all!  

At the time of his death he wasn't considered 'high risk', so he was waiting for assessment with NHS talking therapies at his request. He had self-referred on March 1 and his appointment for June 3 (three months later) which is within the target wait times for the service.

If you want to criticise anything, maybe this is a better target for your ire. 

I Wonder If This Applies To Ukranian Students..?

On Thursday a new survey found that 45% of UK students worry about climate change once a week or more.

Literature student Meg Watts, 22, said that she had experienced depression after being overwhelmed by the scale of problems facing the planet.

Christ, when I was 22 the only 'overwhelming' thing I faced was whether to go to the US or Europe for holiday, and whether that dreamy guy in the post room would be a hot date (Reader, he wasn't...).  

And she sought therapy after developing disordered eating when trying to cut out food packaged with plastic.

I...

I just...

Of course, where there's snowflakes, there's an 'initiative', as the parasites scramble to such their metaphysical blood: 

The new programme was developed with mental health charity Norfolk and Waveney Mind, who realised young people were coming for counselling about their fears about climate change.

And of course, not told to go away because this was a service for people with real problems... 

Speaking to BBC News, development student Stephen Kirk, 21, said his anxieties around climate change began at school. He dug for information online about global warming and biodiversity, and became anxious and angry.

"Sometimes I feel quite alone with climate change and the emotions that I feel around it," he explained. But the climate cafe was a "safe and open space to just talk" without worrying about how others react, he said.

So it starts in schools. Close this nonsense down to protect future generations! You know it makes sense... 

H/T:Steve Ludek via Twitter

Can 'The Reputation Of The Profession' Get Worse?

A children's therapist who 'violently' slapped a vulnerable four-year-old boy '10 to 20 times' because he did not put his shoes on and pretended to be asleep has been ruled fit to work again after 'addressing his failings' and 'reflecting' on the assault.

Yes, it's this individual.

A Health and Care Professions Tribunal Service (HCPTS) committee ruled: 'Mr Priess has taken steps [by] providing a reflective piece covering his insight, remorse and reflection on the impact of his actions on the reputation of the profession.

What about the impact on the victim - shouldn't that count for more? 

'The panel finds the (sic) Mr Preiss's fitness to practise is no longer impaired because he has addressed his failings, shown insight, and the public interest issues have been resolved.'

Shouldn't the public be asked that? 

There's More To Worry About Here Than The Physical Assault...

An occupational therapist who slapped a four-year-old boy with learning difficulties when he refused to put on his shoes and socks has avoided being struck off from his profession, a court has heard.

Ramon Priess, 34, struck the vulnerable child's face '10 to 20 times' after he pretended to be asleep at a session at the Maximum Potential clinic in Devonshire Place, central London, in April 2019.

The attack, which happened in front of the boy's mother, left the child with a 'reddened' right cheek.

I'd have thought the mother would have intervened. With the nearest heavy object! 

The mother witnessed the incident and spoke to the child's father later that evening, who then sent an email to Priess.

Sent an email!! What sort of family is this?

Priess responded: 'Apologies for what has happened today. This wasn't meant to hurt him at all. He complained over pain in his mouth just before as well.

'There is nothing I can do to justify what happened and I suppose it is probably best if [the child] stays with Maximum Potential and does not see me privately.

'The lines are blurring between my professional relationship/private friendship with [the mother] and [the child]. They feel like family to me and I handled it in a way I would with my nephews and nieces.'

Well, good grief, if that doesn't ring alarm bells, what does? 

In September 2019, Priess was charged with assault by beating but he left the UK in December 2019 and started work in a paediatric occupational health practice in Berlin, Germany. He was still working there in February this year.

Clearly, the Germans are quite sanguine about the prospects of employing a total wrong 'un in such a delicate and crucial role. But why should we be in the UK? 

He pleaded not guilty but was convicted following a trial at Westminster Magistrates Court in March 2020 and was handed a 12 week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months in June 2020.

You'd think that would be it, but no. 

...a conduct and competence committee of the Health and Care Professions Tribunal Service has ruled he will only be suspended from the profession for six months, after hearing it was an 'isolated event' and that he had apologised.

All it takes is an apology? Seriously? 

'[Mr Priess] has insight, does appear to be willing to resolve matters, is unlikely to repeat the misconduct, and has apologised for his actions, which were an isolated event in his career.

'A Striking Off Order would be disproportionate in all the circumstances.'

It is unclear if the suspension will affect Priess' ability to practise abroad or if he will only be suspended in the UK, with the tribunal adding that it only 'might have an effect on his ability to work as an Occupational Therapist in Germany'.

Good grief! 

What About The Mental Health Of The Rest Of The Country?

A teenage arsonist who torched two buildings when dared by a friend has avoided jail after a judge said a custodial sentence would harm his mental health.

Because reading stuff like this is driving me mad! 

Half of Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service's entire resources had to be called upon to tackle the two blazes, Liverpool Crown Court was told.

But a judge accepted his ADHD played a key part in the arsons and locking him up would harm his mental health.

Edwards-Meredith was instead handed eight months' detention, suspended for two years, with a 25-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and 100 hours of unpaid work.

Ah, ADHD again. It's becoming as ubiquitous as PTSD in these crime reports. 

John Weate, defending, said ... Edwards-Meredith was diagnosed with ADHD early in his childhood, which 'leads to impulsivity and leads to acting without thought'.

It must be more contagious than the latest Wuhan Flu varient, it's clearly spread to the judge!

But She's Not A Child, Judge...

Judge Rupert Lowe said: “From a great deal of what I’ve read about you it seems like you’re rather proud of that (criminal record).

“You like getting into the trouble and like getting the public to spend thousands and thousands of pounds on you, your friends seem to like it and that’s the way you’re living your life.

“People actually have a need for police when real crimes take place and children like you, who like to waste people’s time, make that impossible.

“You are effectively a badly behaved child.

"This is a troubled young lady who will need ongoing help and support.”

“I have no doubt your difficult background obviously plays a part in your bad childish behaviour, but what you will realise in due course is when you get past the age of 18 you are not a child anymore.

“There will come a point when you will have to become a grown up.

“I think you regarded that (Criminal Behaviour Order) as a bit of a game to play. You go round breaching it so you can get all the attention from the authorities.”

So how old is this lisping little moppet? 

Using fake names, the 19-year-old made 16 bogus calls reporting women carrying weapons and self-harming in public.

Err... 

Psychiatrist Dr Muzaffar Hussain told the court Williams, formerly from Medway and Kent Avenue, Canterbury, before moving to Basildon, Essex, did not suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder.

Her barrister Kerry Waite argued Williams is “a young person crying out for attention and help” who suffers “a great deal of immaturity”.

As the great Vampire Slayer once said "No, that's when you shout 'Help!' in a loud voice." 

And A Negative Influence On Everyone Else's...

Defending, Christopher Pix said Mr Brindley suffers from epilepsy due to depression (Ed: Huh..?) and that his dog had had "a positive influence on his mental health".

I wonder how its victim's mental health is? 

Due to the absence of previous complaints or incidents related to the dog, Mr Brindley was ordered to pay £250 compensation to the victim.

An order has been made for the dog to be muzzled in all public places.

I thought we had moved on from the fallacy that a dog is allowed 'one bite'..? 

What's The Gaelic For 'Take A Knee, Coppers'..?

First, the lies: 

Then, the extortion.

The race-baiting parasites begin making the narrative:

Finally, the truth:

Looking at this video of the scene, I'm astounded they even tried less-lethal alternatives (pepper spray and Taser) before dropping him like the rabid animal he was.

If Only There Really Was A Net, Judge...

A man who threw his infant son into a river “slipped through the net” of mental health services, a judge has said.

...it's more like, well, nothing. 

The psychiatrist Dr John Crosby, his treating clinician at Ashworth secure hospital (and the same guy giving evidence on behalf of another murderous psychotic in the news), said Bennett-Eko, who had a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia, should “never have been discharged” from community mental health care services in the years before his son’s death.

Thanks for that, Dr Hindsight. Why was he then?

Bennett-Eko, who was too unwell to appear at the trial or the sentencing, was previously diagnosed with psychosis related to cannabis and sectioned at the age of 15 but discharged into the care of his GP in 2017, the court was told.

Hard enough to get in to see the GP if you're sane... 

Peter Wright QC, defending, added that Bennett-Eko had tried to seek support for his mental health problems six times in the weeks leading up to his son’s death.

The judge said: “You expressly asked to be sectioned. The notes of one of those visits positively states ‘no emergency, no urgency’ and you were again simply referred back to your GP.”

There's no 'net' at all, is there? 

One Thing's For Sure About This Trial....

...when it's all over, this guy deserves a medal:

Mr Brady said a passer-by, Tony Canty, who been out for a walk with his wife and daughter witnessed Skana 'manhandling' and 'screaming' at Emily and pushing her to the ground.

Skana screamed: 'She tried to kill me.' She then repeated it as she ran past Mr Canty. At that stage, Mr Canty 'had no idea how serous the situation was, he hadn't seen a knife and didn't realise that Emily had been fatally wounded,' Mr Brady said.

But he was 'sufficiently' concerned to run after Skana, with his wife shouting after him that she had a knife. He briefly lost sight of Skana but soon caught up with her and either 'barged or pushed' her to the ground. Skana fell on to her back and Mr Canty was able to detain her until the police arrived.

Doesn't he? 

The Justice System Is More Like 'Jackanory' These Days...

Sean Sullivan, defending, suggested there had been “tension” between groups of women earlier in the night.

He said: “She does not seek to excuse her behaviour. Whatever the individual cause, she failed to deal with it properly.”

Well, that's one way of putting it, I suppose...

The court was told the attack was “out of character” as Marshall has no previous conditions. She has been dealing with mental health issues caused by a “traumatic” incident in her life.

Wait, isn't that 'seeking to excuse her behaviour', Sean? Gosh, it's like words have no real meaning for you, isn't it? 

Mr Sullivan added: “She regrets her behaviour, which is highly unlikely to occur again in future.”

Until she gets drunk and decides her Mental Health Exemption Card hasn't expired, I guess... 

The judge imposed a suspended sentence and ordered Marshall to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and ten rehabilitation sessions. Marshall was also banned from going to Anjelique Bar for two years.

Plenty of other bars she's able to go to, I suppose? 

The judge said: “Two young women were assaulted in this bar, one with her eyebrow gashed.

“They will be wondering why on earth you are not going to prison. Most people in their shoes would think the same.”

Most of the public are thinking that too! 

“This was a nasty and unpleasant attack which will leave one victim scarred for life.

“Your mental health had deteriorated because of an abusive relationship and an intensely traumatic incident when you were younger.

“That incident in your past will be worth discussing in order to address why you committed these offences.”

*sighs* 

It's Always The Quiet Ones, Isn't It?

And when it's not them, it's the former government employees: 

The 54-year-old, who had a PhD in neuroscience and said he previously worked at Government facility Porton Down, suffered from bipolar affective disorder, the court was told.

But are we sure he was crazy? 

He told police he had also written a letter to Boris Johnson criticising his attitude to Russia...

Hmmm, not convinced. 

...and a letter to then Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in which he praised him.

Ah. OK then. 

Mark Pritchard, defending, said Doyle had been living with agoraphobia since 2013 following the death of a friend.

How'd he get out to the post office then? 

Joseph Allman, prosecuting, said when police raided Doyle's home in Fir Street they found more than 245,000 indecent images of children on a laptop.

*speechless* 

Now, What Sort Of Job Doesn't Require A Good Name..?

Naomi Jayne Buckland, 22, acted out of ‘misguided loyalty’ to her brother Nathan, a court heard.

He was in custody accused of killing a man outside a pub in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, in September 2018.

And she was....a police recruit. With access to the force's computer system. You can see where this is going, can't you?

Sam Faulks, prosecuting, told Durham Crown Court she was asked to check if an inmate in the jail where her brother, then 25, was held in custody was an undercover police officer.

In a phone call to her brother, which was recorded, she said the inmate was not an officer.

Hopefully the 'recorded' bit means Professional Standards could see where it was going too... 

Mark Styles, defending, said: ‘If there was a case of misguided loyalty to a family member, this was it. As a result she lost her job and good name.’

Yes, those are called consequences. Luckily for her, she possesses the magic Get Out Of Jail Free card her brother lacked: 

Buckland, of Newton Aycliffe, admitted unauthorised computer access and was sentenced to 16 months in jail, suspended for two years.

Well, what can she do now, as an untrustworthy almost-jailbird? Who'd employ her? 

Mr Styles said Buckland is now planning to re-train as a mental health nurse.

*gulps* 

No, Pretty Sure They Don't...

I think being a shameless publicity whore who cannot live without seeing your name in the papers probably is a mental disorder though...

An asexual person is someone who "does not experience sexual attraction,” the Asexual Visibility and Education Network outlines, emphasising the difference between asexuality and celibacy, which is a “choice to abstain from sexual activity”.

She might not experience sexual attraction, but a camera lens is clearly a lamp to her moth... 

Does she have sexual desire, though?

‘Yes, but not towards other people. Let’s just say asexual people still have libidos and functioning bodies… would orgasming feel better if someone else was involved? No.

So she's just a useless w...

No, no, this is a family blog!

When VirtueSignalling Goes Very Wrong...

Our brave 'non-award-winning freelance journalist' walks into a gift shop...

And, as these people do, feels free to badger the bemused sales assistant about items they themselves don't want to buy and so - of course! - no-one else should be able to buy. Because they are offended.

But then...

Oh noes! You mean other people can be offended too! Well, I hope you've learned a valuable less...

Oh. Clearly not. 

How dare he take pictures, Adam. HOW VERY DARE HE! 

Only you can do that. Can't you? 

Well, I hope this at least has taught you a valuable less...

Oh.

Yes. Having failed and been routed like the little whipped cur he is, he now wants to whip up a mob to ruin a small business because they dared to stand up to him. How very typical, as we see so often at David Thompson's blog.

Hey, Adam - maybe you wouldn't need to get your mental health looked at at taxpayer expense if you were a nicer person? Have you tried that? It's free!

"Girls will be boys, and boys will be girls..."

"...It's a mixed up, muddled up, shook up world."

The Kinks weren't wrong, were they? As we hurtle towards 2020, and a new decade, you wonder what will top this.

You know, don't you, that some narcissistic exhibitionists somewhere are surely planning to...

The PC PCs Strike Again....

The force said the man detained at the scene was taken to hospital after it is believed he suffered a medical emergency.

I always assumed that a 'medical emergency' was a heart attack, stroke, premature labour. Something of that ilk.

Never in a million years would I have dreamed it would one day mean 'nutcase on the loose with a knife'.

The dog only joined Staffordshire Police in early April, after passing the 13-week training course with handler PC Karl Mander. 

Chief Inspector Donna Harvey, from Staffordshire Police, said: 'Police dogs are our family, not property, and our thoughts are with the dog and his handler at this time.'

The dog showed a lot more courage and dedication to duty than the rest of the 'family'. At least it got stuck in!

New legislation also known as 'Finn's Law' came into force last month, which gives greater protection to all service animals.

The legislation introduced tougher penalties for those convicting of harming police dogs and horses.

Nutters, however, will get away with it...