Yesterday I spoke in a debate on ‘Suicide prevention and the National Curriculum’ in response to an e-Petition tabled by mental health campaigners 3 Dads Walking. Having lost their 3 young daughters to suicide, they have called for lessons in schools to signpost where to go for help, and to talk about suicide in a sensitive and age-appropriate way.

I paid tribute to the 3 Dads’ excellent efforts, and highlighted work being done on suicide prevention locally too. OTR has done important outreach work in schools over the years, and provides one-to-one counselling to young people. Bristol City Council also published its suicide prevention plan in August, to advise schools supporting children who self-harm or have suicidal thoughts.

We must do more to make sure today’s children don’t end up tomorrow’s suicide statistics. But we also have to make sure we get this right. Children who are neurodivergent or already struggling can’t be left behind in wider efforts to raise awareness. I will be following this closely when the Suicide Prevention Plan is published this year, and I really do hope we see progress soon.

You can read my contribution to the debate here.

Watch clip here.