A Cumbrian father who lost his daughter to suicide, and two other suicide-bereaved dads were this week given an audience with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to highlight the issue.
The meeting between the PM and the campaigning 3 Dads Walking – Andy Airey, of Morland, near Penrith, Tim Owen and Mike Palmer – was set up by Penrith and the Border MP Neil Hudson.
At the top of the agenda was discussion about embedding safe age-appropriate suicide awareness and mental first aid in educational settings.
Mr Sunak welcomed Dr Hudson and the three dads into the Rose Garden of 10 Downing Street, where he heard from the men about their emotional journey and threw his weight behind the campaign.
A father himself, the Prime Minister clearly understood the need to better support young people with their mental health, the dads said.
To keep momentum rolling and change the statutory guidance on RSE curricula, the three dads and Dr Hudson will meet Education Secretary, Gillian Keegan, next month.
The group has raised more than £1 million for suicide prevention charity Papyrus by walking over 300 miles across the UK.
Their tireless campaigning is in memory of their daughters Sophie, Emily and Beth.
Andy said: “We didn’t choose to come down this road because of what our girls did, but it’s good to know we are being heard.” Dr Hudson joined the trio on the Penrith leg of their mammoth trek and has campaigned passionately alongside them.
Dr Hudson said: “It has been one of the greatest privileges of my parliamentary career to facilitate this meeting between the 3 Dads and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
“I am in awe of their ability to turn such harrowing personal tragedies into a message of hope. Their strength, dedication and indomitable spirit has rightly led to such a critical issue being discussed at the highest level of Government.
“With suicide remaining the leading cause of death among under-35s, the way forward seems clear to me, and I thank the Prime Minister for engaging with us in such an open and proactive manner. The 3 Dads are affecting real change and I’m confident progress is being made to make our young folk safer from the tragedy of suicide.”
Mr Sunak said: “When Neil talked about you in Prime Minister’s Question Time and I learned a little bit more about all your stories it was so moving. And I have two young girls, so it particularly just struck a chord with me.”
“To have suffered the tragic losses that all of you have had, but then to channel that into raising awareness so that people know that there’s somewhere that they can go and talk to; it’s inspiring and you deserve enormous praise for that.”
Dr Hudson added: “I’m really humbled the more I work with these guys, just seeing them using their own personal tragedy and pivoting that to try and help other people. Everyone knows young people who are struggling, and I firmly believe – you know we had the Secretary of Education here as well – so I think you’ve got cross-party MPs agreeing on this, you’ve got the top of Government listening. The time is right for change.”
