Latest news with #3DadsWalking
South Wales Argus
7 days ago
- Health
- South Wales Argus
Education training experts back suicide prevention in school
The move comes as the government makes the topic compulsory following the efforts of the 3 Dads Walking campaign, who each lost a daughter to suicide. The successful campaign has led to a change in the Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) curriculum in England. Dr Richard Anderson, head of learning and development at High Speed Training, said: "This new curriculum will empower young people to have open and honest conversations about mental health. "It is vital to support schools, teachers, and parents in this crucial endeavour." The added curriculum will be introduced in September this year, becoming mandatory by September 2026. Dr Anderson added: "By raising awareness and encouraging open, honest discussion, we can break down the stigma, reduce risk, and ultimately, save lives." The announcement coincides with Samaritans' 24/7 Day, which highlights the charity's consistent support service for those struggling.
Scotsman
24-07-2025
- Health
- Scotsman
Education training experts support suicide prevention in schools on Samaritans' 24/7 day
In recognition of Samaritans' 24/7 awareness day, leading e-learning company High Speed Training is highlighting the importance of equipping children and young people with the knowledge to support others in crisis. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The call comes as the government announces that suicide prevention will be a compulsory part of the school curriculum, a landmark victory for the " 3 Dads Walking" campaign. The three fathers, who each tragically lost a daughter to suicide, have campaigned to ensure all young people learn about mental health and suicide prevention in a safe and supportive school environment. Their efforts have resulted in a historic change to the Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) curriculum in England. Dr. Richard Anderson, Head of Learning & Development at High Speed Training, said: 'On Samaritans' 24/7 Day, we are reminded of the power of conversation and the importance of being there for one another. This new curriculum will empower young people to have open and honest conversations about mental health, and it is vital to support schools, teachers, and parents in this crucial endeavour.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Knowing how to talk to someone who is suicidal can be daunting, but it is a skill that can be learned. Key advice includes knowing your resources, such as Samaritans, creating a safe & private space to talk, not being afraid to ask and express concern directly, and actively listening without judgment. 2 young children hugging Dr. Anderson continues: "The reasons a young person may experience suicidal thoughts are incredibly complex. In school, they face immense pressure to fit in, excel academically, and make life-defining decisions, often alongside pressures at home or with friends. It's easy to see how they can feel overwhelmed. 'That is why access to support and resources is paramount. Educating students on risk factors, showing them where to turn for help, and teaching them how to notice and respond if a peer is struggling are crucial, life-saving skills. By raising awareness and encouraging open, honest discussion, we can break down the stigma, reduce risk, and ultimately, save lives." The new curriculum guidance will be available for schools to implement from September this year, and will be mandatory from September 2026. This move is a significant step towards a future where young people feel able to talk about their mental health and seek help when they need it. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad
BBC News
20-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Cumbria stories you might have missed this week
Three campaigning dads who lost their daughters to suicide were given welcome news this week, while an announcement for hospital patients in Barrow was less well received - here are some of the stories from Cumbria you might have missed this week. Dads win battle for suicide prevention lessons Three fathers who each lost a daughter to suicide say "lives will be saved" now the government has agreed to their call for suicide prevention to be taught in the past four years, Andy Airey, Mike Palmer and Tim Owen called for awareness of the subject to be added the national curriculum, following the deaths of their daughters Sophie, Beth and as the 3 Dads Walking, they said their "voices have finally been heard" after the Department for Education (DfE) announced on Tuesday that lessons discussing suicide prevention would be compulsory in secondary schools from September Airey, from Morland in Cumbria, said: "I'm absolutely gobsmacked, it doesn't feel real."Read the full story here. Hospital could stop treating sickest patients Sick and injured people requiring the highest level of intensive care may have to be transported more than an hour's drive away to a neighbouring county under a plan to permanently reduce a hospital and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) intends to make permanent the temporary suspension of the level 3 unit at Furness General Hospital (FGH), in Barrow-in-Furness, due to a lack of who require lower levels of critical care will continue to be treated at FGH, but the sickest patients would have to attend Royal Lancaster director Prof Andy Knox said the ICB would engage with the community and staff before confirming the information on this story is here. Council scraps discounts for first-time buyers A council has scrapped the need for housebuilders to provide discounted homes to first-time buyers on new housing and Furness Council has dropped the First Home Statement which gave buyers a 30% discount on their first home.A report by the council said the scheme did not fulfil its housing objectives, in part due to the area's ageing Democrat councillor Judith Derbyshire said the scheme "undermines our goal for local housing needs" and was "narrowly targeted".And you can read more about this story here. First mayoral election deferred to May 2027 A proposed mayoral election has been delayed to 2027 in a bid to save and Westmorland and Furness councils wrote to the government earlier this month to request deferring the proposed 2026 mayoral election in Cumbria to the following authorities said at the time holding the election would cost about £1m, but holding it in conjunction with the already planned local elections in 2027 would "save significant resources".The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) confirmed the request had been all about it here. Troubled jail now one of most 'impressive' A prison with a troubled history has become one of the country's most "impressive jails," inspectors have Haverigg, near Barrow, houses about 490 convicted sex offenders and had previously been forced to close for several weeks after a in recent years the prison has increased efforts to rehabilitate prisoners by finding them jobs on farms and in coffee Chief Inspector of Prisons, Charlie Taylor, said the jail had become "safe, decent and effective".For all the details on this story click here. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
15-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Three Dads' pride at suicide prevention lessons in schools
Three fathers who each lost a daughter to suicide say "lives will be saved" now the government has agreed to their call for suicide prevention to be taught in the past four years, Andy Airey, Mike Palmer and Tim Owen called for awareness of the subject to be added the national curriculum, following the deaths of their daughters Sophie, Beth and as the 3 Dads Walking, they said their "voices have finally been heard" after the Department for Education (DfE) announced on Tuesday that lessons discussing suicide prevention would be compulsory in secondary schools from September Airey, from Morland in Cumbria, said: "I'm absolutely gobsmacked, it doesn't feel real." He said the trio began campaigning shortly after their first walk to raise awareness in 2021 and admitted it had at times felt "like we were swimming through treacle uphill", but now their "voices have been heard"."We have covered a lot of ground, literally and figuratively, over the last few years, but to come to a point where a significant change is going to happen still feels quite unreal. I'm stunned.""We are really proud of what we have achieved." "We would have rather never have met each other," Mr Airey the fathers "didn't choose to come down this route", once they launched 3 Dads they realised how important it was to be "open and honest" about what they were Airey, Mr Palmer, from Sale in Greater Manchester, and Mr Owen, from Shouldham in Norfolk, met Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson earlier this month, where they were told there was "potential for change" in the new DfE guidance reveals secondary schools will be expected to work closely with mental health professionals to help discuss suicide prevention with pupils in an "age-appropriate way". It said schools can follow the guidance from this year and that it would become compulsory from September move comes alongside plans to include anti-misogyny in sex education classes. An astonishing journey The road to this point has been long in more ways than one for the 3 Dads the trio set out on their first walk in 2021, it was to raise awareness that suicide was the biggest killer of under-35s – something none of them knew before their daughters took their own that 300-mile (483km) trip between their three homes they raised almost £1m for suicide prevention charity Papyrus, but knew much more needed to be their second walk took in all four UK Parliaments, where they called on ministers to ensure every child was taught the skills to cope with suicidal thoughts and where to turn to for help. As a result, they met the leaders who would be responsible for taking that decision - something all three say their daughters would find astonishing, if not a little a third walk they met the then leader of the opposition, Sir Keir Starmer, who heard the dads ask: "If this is the biggest killer of our young people, why aren't we talking about it?"Finally, at a meeting at Number 10 a few weeks ago, the prime minister said the government was taking the dads' concerns seriously, something today's announcement Mike and Tim say they are just three suicide-bereaved dads who put on their hiking they have also proved that by walking and talking they were able to change the whole narrative around suicide and take steps towards saving young lives. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised you can visit the BBC's Action Line pages, or contact Papyrus, or Samaritans. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
ITV News
15-07-2025
- Health
- ITV News
Suicide prevention will be taught in schools following campaign by 3 Dads Walking
Three dads who have been campaigning to get suicide prevention taught in schools are celebrating a major victory after the government announced it will be added to new education guidance. Mike Palmer, from Sale, Cumbria's Andy Airey and Tim Owen, from Norfolk, known as 3 Dads Walking - all lost their daughters to suicide. They have been calling for suicide prevention to be a mandatory part of the curriculum, to ensure pupils are equipped "with the life skills to keep them safe in later life". The news follows a meeting with the prime minister and the education secretary at the beginning of July, and now new guidance has been released by the government on relationships, sex and health education (RSHE). It also includes requirements on helping children with their mental health, including working with mental health professionals to discuss suicide prevention 'in an age-appropriate way'. Children will be taught the importance of 'grit and resilience' in order to help them 'feel able to take on challenges and risks'. Andy, Mike and Tim Owen – who founded suicide prevention charity 3 Dads Walking in memory of their daughters – said: 'Giving schools permission to talk about suicide prevention means more young people can be supported to open up about difficult feelings and know where to find help. 'We know, from painful personal experience, how much this matters. This change will save lives.' Schools will be able to implement the guidance from September this year, and must follow it from September 2026. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: 'Children today are bombarded by content – whether it's Instagram influencers with impossible expectations for how we should look, or algorithms that trap young people in a vortex of vices from gambling to drugs. 'Our new RSHE curriculum will equip kids to develop positive attitudes from the get-go, building their resilience to harmful content in an age-appropriate way. 'With mental health, just like physical health, prevention is so much more powerful than the cure. "So we're going further in making sure that once children are old enough to understand issues around self-harm and suicide in secondary school, they get the tools to distinguish fact from fiction, and reject the vile content that trades in encouraging young kids to harm themselves or worse." The Three dads have raised £1.5 million for for the suicide prevention charity PAPYRUS in memory of their daughters. They recently completed their fourth fundraising walk which took more than 130 miles around the Anglesey coastal path. They completed their first challenge in 2021 by walking 300-miles. A year later they trekked 600-miles, walking between the parliaments of all four nations from Northern Ireland through Scotland, Wales and England. Last year they walked a further 500 miles from Scotland down through the eastern counties of England. In November they were honoured with MBEs in the King's Birthday Honours List. In other changes to the curriculum, children will be taught how to combat misogyny and resist so-called incel culture under new guidance for schools. The guidance on relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) focuses on helping boys find positive role models amid the increasing spread of sexist online content from 'manosphere' influencers such as Andrew Tate. It also stresses the need to avoid 'stigmatising boys for being boys'. As well as lessons on so-called incel (involuntary celibate) culture, secondary schools will be required to provide young people with greater awareness of AI, deepfakes and links between pornography and misogyny. The guidance comes as the Department for Education (DfE) warned that misogynistic attitudes had reached 'epidemic scale' among young people, with 54% of those aged 11-19 saying they had witnessed misogynist comments. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: 'Before I was elected to Parliament, I managed a refuge for women and children fleeing domestic violence, so I have seen first-hand the devastating impact when we don't foster healthy attitudes from the youngest age. 'I want our children to be equipped to defy the malign forces that exist online. Schools and parents alike have a vital role to play, helping children identify positive role models and resist the manipulation too often used online to groom impressionable young minds.' In its manifesto last year, Labour pledged to halve the rate of violence against women and girls in 10 years. And earlier in 2025, Sir Keir Starmer praised the Netflix drama Adolescence for highlighting how misogyny had 'taken on a different form' and said he wanted a discussion on what could be done to stop young boys 'being dragged into this whirlpool of hatred and misogyny'.
