The mother of a student who took her own life said she was relying on the university’s help, a court heard.
Natasha Abrahart, 20, was a second-year physics student at the University of Bristol and died in April 2018.
Her family is now taking civil action against the university for owing her a duty of care and neglecting her social anxiety disorder.
Bristol County Court heard she had previously attempted suicide, and staff were aware she was struggling.
Opening the case, Jamie Burton QC said Miss Abrahart was “conscientious, clever and hardworking” but suffered from “debilitating social anxiety” from a young age.
He said she would often “switch off when she was the center of attention” and rarely speak in class.
Mr Burton said her anxiety “increased” at university and she was struggling with a module that requires her to take part in a series of lab interviews and oral assessments.
He said the Abrahart family, from West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, have accused the university of failing to make adjustments for their daughter in her course to help her speak in front of a group.
They also say that as a disabled student she was neglected and a victim of indirect discrimination.
The court heard that Miss Abrahart, who was diagnosed with chronic social anxiety, did not attend several lab interviews and when she did, “she did poorly”.
Mr Burton said the student was found dead at her home on the same day she was due to give a presentation to fellow students and staff in a 329-seat auditorium.
“She found reviews too frightening to face,” he said.
“Assessing a student’s ability to verbally explain lab work and answer questions was a standard of competency and placed Natascha at a significant disadvantage compared to students who did not share her disability.”
He said Barbara Perks, a student administrator, discussed with Miss Abrahart the idea of preparing written answers to questions in advance and suggested that if she could show her contribution to the work, she didn’t have to speak in the group presentation.
In evidence, Margaret Abrahart said her daughter had not spoken out about using the university’s counseling service and had never complained to her about elements of the course.
She said she was unaware of her daughter’s suicide attempts until informed by one of her friends.
“She [Natasha] found it very difficult to talk about personal things,” said Ms. Abrahart.
“There are many things that people don’t tell their parents.
“I knew something was upsetting her, but I didn’t know what it was and I made the very difficult decision that I had to trust other people to help her.”
The court heard that Miss Abrahart wrote herself notes and letters “expressing extreme distress at her shyness” and thoughts about her social circles and her future.
Rajan Palan, a friend of Miss Abrahart, said he was “exhausted” trying to help her and the university was aware of some of her suicide attempts.
He said he was “relieved” when Miss Abrahart contacted Ms Perks with details of her problems.
Paul Stagg, representative of the university, asked: “You felt that you would take some responsibility to help her? Do you think they helped her?”
“I think there were meetings with doctors,” Mr. Palan replied. “But it wasn’t clear what the use was.
“I didn’t see what the university or anyone else could have done in this case.
“All of her problems stem from her anxiety and have affected her studies. I would have hoped that she would be helped.”
The case continues.
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