The MP for Penrith and the Border spoke out in a special parliamentary debate in support of suicide awareness being taught in schools in a safe age-appropriate manner.
The debate was triggered by the petition of Andy Airey, Tim Owen and Mike Palmer, the 3 Dads Walking, which garnered more than 160,000 signatures.
The three fathers tragically each lost their precious daughters Sophie, Emily and Beth to suicide.
Andy is a constituent of Dr Hudson’s.
Dr Hudson had joined the three dads on their Penrith leg of their walk and secured a commitment for a meeting with them and the Prime Minister to discuss embedding age-appropriate suicide awareness on school curricula and getting more mental first aid training in educational settings.
It was a privilege to speak in the debate this week triggered by the @3dadswalking to get suicide awareness into school curricula. Humbling working with Andy, Tim & Mike on this & I look forward to meeting with @RishiSunak with them in the meeting with the PM that I have secured https://t.co/V9gef3Tjwv pic.twitter.com/D7BTvA1Xvz
— Neil Hudson (@DrNeilHudson) March 15, 2023
With the 3 Dads in attendance, Dr Hudson started his speech by paying tribute to their tireless, selfless campaigning which has bravely turned personal tragedy into positive change.
Dr Hudson explained to the room that the 3 Dads’ campaign has highlighted just how immense the challenge of young suicide is. The biggest killer of under-35s in the UK, more than five young people take their lives each day – some at primary age.
Speaking afterwards the MP for Penrith and The Border, said: "It was an incredible privilege to take part in this momentous debate, joining MPs from across the political spectrum to champion such a caring evidence-based policy that will help save young people from the tragedy of suicide.
READ MORE: 3 Dads Walking: Suicide prevention lessons debated in parliament
"Now is time to push forward and throw all our parliamentary weight behind the 3 Dads and their incredibly selfless and tireless campaigning. My next stop is to discuss the issues with the Prime Minister at Number 10 after I managed to secure a meeting with Rishi Sunak and the 3 Dads.
"Thank you to everyone who signed the petition and made this debate a possibility – Penrith and The Border had the second highest number of supporters of any UK constituency, and I know just how much feeling there is locally," he said.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here