MPs have debated in parliament whether suicide prevention should be mandatory in the school curriculum, as advocated by three suicide-bereaved fathers. 

Nick Fletcher MP, as a member of the Petitions Committee, opened the debate on March 13 and thanked the 3 Dads Walking for 'raising the subject that has affected so many families'. 

The petition received more than 158,000 signatures. 

It states: "We want suicide spoken about in schools in a safe and age-appropriate way. Speaking about suicide saves lives.

"The Dept for Education are conducting a review of the RSHE curriculum; this petition calls on the DfE to include suicide prevention within the statutory guidelines of the new curriculum.”

READ MORE: United by loss - the three dads campaigning to stop suicide

The three Dads, Andy Airey from Cumbria, Mike Palmer and Tim Owen, said: "Suicide is the biggest killer of young people in the UK. Around 200 school-aged children take their own lives every year.

 

"We need our decision makers to understand and address the issue. Attending the debate on our petition will inform our MPs and encourage them to make changes that will save lives.

'Talking about suicide and suicide prevention saves lives'

Together, the three dads have raised more than £ 1 million for young-suicide prevention charity PAPYRUS by walking to all four parliaments across the UK in memory of their daughters. 

PAPYRUS, the prevention of young suicide charity, chief executive, Ged Flynn, said: “Placing suicide prevention on the curriculum gives a clear signal to teachers and parents that we, as a country, honour children, see them, care about them and want them to be themselves, whatever their academic or technical ability.

“Until then desperate children will continue turning to their peers for help and support. It is a national scandal that they are starting conversations in the playground which are not being heard in the classroom.”