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Suicide Prevention and the National Curriculum
13 March 2023
Lead MP
Nicholas Fletcher
Responding Minister
Nick Gibb
Tags
NHSMental Health
Word Count: 18210
Other Contributors: 18
At a Glance
Nicholas Fletcher raised concerns about suicide prevention and the national curriculum in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
Fletcher asked the Government to ensure that suicide and self-harm awareness is included in the national curriculum, specifically in the relationship, sex and health education curriculum. He also requested a mature and responsible approach to teaching these subjects to young people. The hon. Member asked for greater therapeutic support within the education system to teach resilience to young people about their emotions and equip them with skills to recognise and respond to emotional distress. She called on teachers to be trained in talking about suicide, making schools safe places where parents can learn and ask questions.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
Nicholas Fletcher expressed deep concern about the high number of young people taking their own lives in Britain. He cited figures from the Office for National Statistics showing that between April 2020 and March 2021, 157 boys and 72 girls aged 10 to 19 took their own life. Fletcher shared stories of three dads who lost daughters due to suicide and highlighted the work of charities like Papyrus and Samaritans in raising awareness. The hon. Member expressed deep concern about the high number of suicides among under-35s, particularly school-age children. According to the Office for National Statistics, 5,583 suicides were registered in England and Wales last year, with a male-to-female ratio of nearly 2:1. The member highlighted that mental health services are struggling to cope with the demand, especially concerning child and adolescent mental health services which receive only 8.6% of the health budget.
Carol Monaghan
SNP
Glasgow North West
She thanked the hon. Member for his speech on suicide prevention and mentioned a constituent's son, Peter, who took his own life in 2012. She highlighted the need for more information about suicide and suicide prevention in schools.
Debbie Abrahams
Lab
Oldham East and Saddleworth
The MP paid tribute to campaigners like 3 Dads Walking and raised awareness of suicide prevention. She mentioned the case of her nephew, Jack, who died by suicide after being prescribed Roaccutane at age 17. In 2021, there were 5,583 suicides in the UK, with 90% associated with mental health issues. The MP called for awareness and training in universities about signs of mental distress.
Duncan Baker
Con
Orpington
Discussed the need for statutory suicide prevention teaching in RSHE curriculum, highlighting the personal experiences of those affected by mental health issues and citing statistics showing one in six children aged 5-16 identified as having probable mental health problems. Emphasized that early intervention can make a significant difference.
Mr Watling thanked Mr Anderson for his speech and emphasised the importance of warning students about online harms. He supported the Online Harms Bill and suggested that internet platforms should take more responsibility to address these issues.
James Wild
Con
North West Norfolk
He joined the hon. Member in paying tribute to 3 Dads Walking for raising awareness of suicide, particularly highlighting Tim from west Norfolk who is part of the initiative. He welcomed the Government's commitment to a review and suggested that it should hear directly from individuals affected by suicide.
Jason McCartney
Con
Carelton
Mr McCartney highlighted that 17 people take their own lives daily in the UK and shared personal stories from Radio 4's '3 Dads Walking' programme. He pledged to do more on suicide prevention after losing two close friends, thanked colleagues for work with an all-party group, and expressed desire to mitigate social media toxicity and pandemic-induced isolation for young people.
Kerry McCarthy
Lab
Bristol East
Pays tribute to a colleague's speech on suicide prevention and discusses issues such as the delay in prevention of future deaths notices being acted upon, universities' reluctance to communicate with parents due to student autonomy, and the need for mental health support that addresses both causes and consequences. Highlights statistics showing one in six children aged 7-16 have probable mental health conditions, rising to one in four among those aged 17-19. How do we judge whether the Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) programme is having an impact on reducing drug-related harm or gang involvement among children?
Lee Anderson
Reform
Ashfield
Mr Anderson expressed deep sorrow over the loss of Sean Lynk, a young man who was well-liked and seemingly happy before taking his own life. He highlighted the potential impact of the dark web on individuals like Sean and acknowledged the work of support groups such as Enlighten the Shadows in helping those with dark thoughts or suicidal tendencies. Mr Anderson emphasized that suicide can affect anyone regardless of their background, and he called for greater intervention to address this issue by including suicide prevention in school curricula.
Liz Twist
Lab
Blaydon and Consett
Expressed concern about the rising suicide rate among young people, with four schoolchildren taking their own lives in an average week. Mentioned that young women have a record-high suicide rate. Urged better online safeguards and suicide prevention training for children. How will the RSHE review address talking to young people about suicide prevention and ensuring it is okay for them to discuss their feelings?
Mike Amesbury
Lab
Weaver Vale
Many constituents in Weaver Vale have been inspired by 3 Dads Walking, calling for suicide prevention to be integrated into the curriculum and for greater regulation of online harm.
Mike Kane
Lab
Wythenshawe and Sale East
Suicide is the biggest killer of under-35s in the UK, with about 200 school children dying by suicide each year. The speaker highlights the impact on families and advocates for more mental health education in schools. Acknowledged Duncan Baker's speech, noting her background in healthcare before joining parliament.
Neil Hudson
Con
Epping Forest
Neil Hudson paid tribute to the 3 Dads Walking campaign and highlighted the need for suicide awareness in school curricula, noting that more than five young people take their lives each day and over 200 schoolchildren are lost to suicide annually. He stressed the importance of parity between mental and physical health education and expressed support for mental health first aid training.
Rachael Maskell
Lab Co-op
York Central
Will the review include teacher training on discussing mental health and provide support for parents in having conversations with their children about these issues?
The MP agreed that it is important to work with experts to ensure age-appropriate materials are used in the curriculum. He mentioned concerns raised by parents regarding previous curricula, suggesting collaboration with organisations such as Papyrus and CALM.
Barnsley South
Ms Peacock highlighted the high rate of self-harm hospital admissions in her constituency, citing specific statistics. She stressed the strain on child and adolescent mental health services with long wait times and insufficient funding for local charities. Two personal examples were given where delays in treatment exacerbated young people's mental health crises.
Stephen Morgan
Lab
Portsmouth South
Pays tribute to campaigners and charities for their work in suicide prevention. Highlights the importance of including mental health education in schools, with a focus on early intervention and support. Mentions research showing that women aged 16-24 are most likely to report self-harm and suicidal thoughts. Criticizes the failure to meet previous targets for reducing suicide rates among under-35s. Advocates for Labour's proposals to ensure all children have access to mental health counselling in schools and to establish community-based mental health hubs.
Tracey Crouch
Con
Chichester
Crouch expressed concern about the rising number of suicides among school-aged children, with over 200 reported annually. She shared stories of Ryan and Ben, two secondary school boys who took their own lives, highlighting institutional failures in education and mental health services. Crouch advocated for more conversations in schools regarding suicide awareness and prevention, stressing the importance of better mental health support systems. Ms Crouch intervened to suggest that mental health first aid training should be standard provision in schools and sports clubs, rather than becoming necessary after tragic events. Will the Minister commit to speaking with parents and loved ones of those who have taken their lives to understand why they believe suicide prevention should be included in the curriculum?
Virginia Crosbie
Con
Anglesey
Thanked the hon. Member for her speech and emphasised the importance of discussing mental health, particularly with young people, to provide them with tools and signposting to organisations supporting mental health.
Government Response
Nick Gibb
Government Response
In response to the debate on suicide prevention and the national curriculum, Nick Gibb congratulated the MP for Don Valley on initiating the discussion. He acknowledged the tireless efforts of Andy Airey, Mike Palmer, and Tim Owen through their campaign '3 Dads Walking,' which has raised over £1 million for suicide prevention. The minister highlighted the introduction of education on mental wellbeing through the relationships, sex, and health education (RSHE) curriculum in 2020, emphasizing its importance but recognizing concerns raised about teaching suicide directly within the curriculum. He emphasized that schools must cover mental health awareness, daily exercise, good nutrition, and sufficient sleep to support children's physical and mental health. Gibb mentioned a large-scale randomised controlled trial focusing on approaches to improve pupil mental wellbeing in schools, including the Youth Aware of Mental Health programme. He discussed the impact of social media on youth mental health, noting that unsafe online content can contribute to suicide cases like those of Frankie Thomas and Molly Russell. The minister also addressed the importance of providing a safe, calm environment for students and training senior mental health leads in schools. He assured MPs of the upcoming review of RSHE statutory guidance to ensure its effectiveness in delivering mental wellbeing objectives. Gibb confirmed that the Government is committed to publishing a new national suicide prevention strategy this year, reflecting evidence and priorities for preventing suicides among children and young people.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.