Mental health campaigner Dr Neil Hudson MP again teamed up with mental health champions 3 Dads Walking in Parliament as part of their campaign to get age-appropriate suicide awareness on the national curriculum.
The three fathers who turned the tragedies of their daughters’ loss to suicide into a campaign of hope have already raised more than £1 million for charity and then joined with Dr Hudson to help enact long-lasting change by securing safe and age-appropriate suicide awareness on the national curriculum.
A packed schedule saw Dr Hudson and the 3 Dads meet with Mental Health Minister Maria Caulfield before speaking at the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Suicide and Self-harm Prevention.
Having already secured Government confirmation that suicide awareness is part of the current RHSE Curriculum review – Mrs Caulfield was keen to reinforce that change needs to be cross-departmental with every corner of society impacted by young suicide.
The main event however was the APPG - a group of MPs from across the House with a specific remit to raise awareness within Parliament and encourage further discussion into the issues surrounding suicide and self-harm prevention.
Discussing their well-documented personal journeys and the progress being made to get adopt a preventative strategy for young suicide, the 3 Dads were well received by the audience which was made up of mental health experts, charity leaders and members of the public whose lives have been touched by young suicide.
Dr Hudson then took to the floor, paying tribute to the 3 Dads before discussing the need to get more mental health first aid trained staff in schools – training he has personal experience of using in an educational setting. He also reinforced the need to work cross-party to secure a long-term vision of change for everyone.
Dr Neil Hudson MP said:
“Tragically the biggest killer of young people under 35 is unfortunately suicide. It is an issue that unites us in humanity across the House and it was so good to see support from MPs of all political persuasions gather to discuss such a crucial issue for our young folk. With the 3 Dads in recent weeks, we have met with the Prime Minister, Education Secretary and Mental Health Minister and it’s incredibly humbling to work with the 3 Dads and I’m really pleased that progress is being made on this.”
