Dr Neil Hudson MP has celebrated Government action on safe age-appropriate suicide awareness and prevention in schools following his long campaign to boost children's mental health alongside prolific charity advocates, the 3 Dads Walking.
The 3 Dads Walking are Andy, Mike and Tim who came together following the tragic loss to suicide of their daughters, Sophie, Beth and Emily. The trio have since turned their tragedies into a campaign of hope, lobbying Government to support the mental health of our children through suicide awareness education.
Dr Hudson, Andy's constituency MP, has supported the 3 Dads throughout their campaign. Dr Hudson has secured pivotal meetings including a high-profiled discussion at 10 Downing Street with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, as well as with the Education Secretary, Mental Health Minister and Petitions Committee.
New draft guidance for Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) was published (16th May) with the Education Secretary Gillian Keegan specifically paying tribute to the work of the 3 Dads Walking when laying it out before Parliament.
With recognition that such an emotive issue as suicide must be handled sensitively and skilfully, the Conservative Government will make sure teaching equips pupils to recognise when they or their peers might need help and to act.
The guidance has also been strengthened to help young people to understand the benefits of rationing time spent online and the impact on their wellbeing, and the serious risks of viewing content that promotes self-harm and suicide.
Parents will have the right to see the resources that are being used to teach their children about relationships, health and sex in all circumstances and new age limits will be introduced so that children are not introduced to content they may not have the maturity to understand. Through the consultation process expert government policy advisers have set this limit to Year 8 (12-13-year-olds) for direct references to suicide.
In addition to updated guidance, the Department for Education is seeking views on adding several new subjects to the curriculum, and more detail on others including specifically suicide prevention. Dr Hudson is keen to see such a critical issue cemented in the school curriculum given the much increased instances of mental ill health and suicide among children.
If teachers have concerns about a specific pupil in relation to eating disorders, self-harm or suicidal ideation or attempts, or a pupil discloses information, they must follow safeguarding procedures.
Dr Neil Hudson MP said:
"Through Government consultation, we heard from teachers calling for more support when addressing sensitive issues such as suicide. And we have acted.
"New guidance will equip both students and teachers the tools they need to identify when they or their peers might need help. Put simply, these measures will save children’s lives and I'm delighted to welcome the statutory guidance which will soon be utilised in schools up and down the land.
"I look forward to engaging with the next phase of consultation which will hopefully see suicide prevention cemented in school curricula to save even more young lives from the tragedy of suicide.
"I'd like to reinforce that this new guidance could not have come about if not for the crucial work of the 3 Dads Walking, Andy, Mike and Tim. I again pay tribute to their indomitable spirits and thank them for the hope they have brought future generations. They truly are heroes and it has been the privilege of a lifetime to work alongside them to deliver this change."
A public statement from the 3 Dads Walking said:
"We welcome the revised RSHE curriculum which was published for public consultation on Thursday.
"We are pleased to read that teachers will have permission to talk about suicide prevention by delivering age-appropriate lessons which will encourage our young people to reach out for help when necessary and signposting relevant individuals and organisations that can help.
"Our formal response to the draft curriculum will be overwhelmingly supportive however we have two reservations:
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Suicide prevention is not compulsory in this curriculum – ‘schools may wish to talk to young people about suicide prevention’. We strongly believe this is essential - schools should be talking to young people about suicide prevention.
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‘Direct references to suicide should not be made before year 8’ – this is one year late. We have spoken to too many suicide-bereaved parents of 11- & 12-year-olds to know that we need to be speaking openly and age-appropriately to Year 7s about suicide prevention.
"Despite our concerns we believe that this revised RSHE curriculum is a positive first step forward in protecting our young people from the biggest risk in their lives – themselves by suicide. It is a very strong foundation on which to add compulsory suicide prevention lessons in schools in the future. This remains our aim."
In the Chamber, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said:
"I want to pay tribute to the incredible work of the 3 Dads Walking who have used their unimaginable tragedies in their lives to campaign for important change."
The draft guidance is now open to consultation. When final, the guidance will be statutory and schools will be expected to follow it.
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