This week, Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Epping Forest, celebrated the major campaign win with the 3 Dads Walking to see safe, age-appropriate lessons on suicide prevention be introduced in the secondary school curriculum in England.
Just this week, the Government published new statutory guidance for schools on what must be provided as part of Relationships Education and Sex Education (RSE), and Health Education. The guidance states that schools should provide age-appropriate lessons on suicide prevention for pupils of secondary school age. Secondary schools should consider how to safely address suicide prevention.
Currently, suicide is the main cause of death in young people under the age of 35 in the UK, meaning suicide awareness and prevention is pivotal to save young lives, and to equip them with the tools they need to be aware of their own mental health and keep them safe.
This curriculum guidance change is the culmination of several years of campaigning on this objective, with Dr Hudson supporting in parliament the work of the 3 Dads Walking, Andy Airey, Mike Palmer and Tim Owen who have campaigned on this issue after tragically losing their daughters Sophie, Beth and Emily to suicide.
As a result of their tragedy, the 3 Dads have turned their pain into action, taking part in several fund-raising walks across the country to raise money for PAPYRUS, the Prevention of Young Suicide, a charity dedicated to the cause of suicide prevention for young people. They raised £1.4million on their 300 mile walk back in 2021 in which they walked between the four Parliaments of the United Kingdom, and since then have walked in Wales to raise awareness of the difficulties of accessing mental health support in rural areas. Dr Hudson has joined the 3 Dads on one of the legs of their walks.
The new statutory guidance comes after the 3 Dads met with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer inside 10 Downing Street, a meeting Dr Hudson secured for the 3 Dads, asking for the meeting during Prime Minister’s Questions a few weeks ago.
Thanks to Dr Hudson, that was not the first time they got to discuss this issue in Downing Street, having met with former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in 2023, a meeting Dr Hudson again secured. Dr Hudson also secured meetings for the 3 Dads with the Education Secretary in the Department of Education.
This resulted in RSHE guidance published for consultation prior to the General Election last year, by the then Education Secretary, which proposed suicide prevention can be discussed with pupils from Year 8 onwards.
In Parliament, Dr Hudson has consistently championed the 3 Dads’ cause and for improved mental health, from launching a Early Day Motion calling for mandatory mental health first aid training to staff in schools and colleges with strong cross-party support by Members of Parliament, to serving as an Officer for the APPG on Suicide and Self-Harm Prevention, which produced a report earlier this year rooted in young people’s experiences of needing support with their mental health, and making recommendations to Government on how they can act to improve this.
Following the curriculum guidance’s publication, Dr Neil Hudson MP said:
“Suicide prevention and awareness lessons being part of the school curriculum in a safe, age-appropriate way, will quite simply, save young lives. It is a national tragedy that suicide is the biggest threat to the lives of our young people, and this change will empower them to be aware of their own mental health and wellbeing, and how to ask for support when they need it.”
“It has been humbling to support the 3 Dads Walking on their journey and campaign. Andy, Mike and Tim have been awe-inspiring in turning their tragedy of losing their precious daughters into action, and campaigning to make life-saving change happen.
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Relationships Education and Sex Education (RSE), and Health Education Guidance: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68761d6b39d0452326e28e6f/RSHE_statutory_guidance_-_July_2025_.pdf
For young people dealing with thoughts of suicide or those concerned for a young person who might be, PAPYRUS operate a confidential service called HOPELINE UK which you can call (0800 068 4141), text (07860039967), or email [email protected].
Other crisis helplines include the Samaritans (116 123), SANEline (0300 304 7000), National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK (0800 689 5652), and Campaign Against Living Miserably (0800 58 58 58).
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