Dr Neil Hudson MP again raised his campaign to get safe age-appropriate suicide prevention on school curricula during a debate on Children’s Mental Health Week 2024.
NHS England's Mental Health of Children and Young People in England 2023 report found that more than one in five children 8-16 year olds had a probable mental disorder - raising to almost one quarter of 17-19 year olds. As such, Dr Hudson is proposing early intervention - empowering children with the tools to spot mental ill health in themselves and others before it becomes unmanageable.
Dr Hudson's campaigning is inspired by and alongside the work of the 3 Dads Walking - a group of suicide-bereaved fathers pushing for more suicide awareness and prevention in schools.
The group, which includes one of Dr Hudson's constituents Andy Airey, and Dr Hudson have met with the Prime Minister, the Education Secretary and the Mental Health Minister. Their efforts have secured suicide prevention's place in the ongoing review of relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) guidance.
Dr Neil Hudson MP said:
"Working to secure suicide prevention in the ongoing RSHE curriculum review alongside the incredible 3 Dads Walking - it was a privilege to again raise awareness for young people's wellbeing in the House of Commons more broadly ahead of Children's Mental Health Week.
"I'm delighted to support Children's Mental Health Week 2024 as parents, charities, teachers - and most importantly young people - come together to shine a light on the importance of mental health."
This comes as Children's Mental Health Week is due to start on Monday 5th February. The awareness week is designed to give a voice to children and young people across the UK who are contending with a marked rise in instances of mental ill health.
With resources for parents, valuable information for children and suggestions on how to raise money to support youth mental health services, do visit the Childrens Mental Health Week website here: https://www.childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk
Dr Neil Hudson MP's recent action to boost mental health:
- Dr Neil Hudson speaks out for young people and rural communities during Commons Mental Health debate
In the debate, Dr Neil Hudson MP said:
"The hon. Member (Dr Rosena Allin-Khan) is making a powerful and passionate speech. As an expert specialist clinician, she has touched on the concept of prevention, and the fact that the key is preventive medicine and signposting. I have had applied suicide intervention skills training and mental health first aid training. I have been privileged to work with 3 Dads Walking, who tragically lost their daughters to suicide. A key part of their campaign is to get suicide prevention on to the school curriculum. Does the hon. Member agree that prevention is a key part of this that we should invest in, and that we should support efforts to get suicide prevention and assistant mechanisms for helping young people into schools and education colleges, to help our young people’s future?"
