Keighley’s MP Robbie Moore has hosted a roundtable discussion with local men's mental health groups to address the challenges predominantly faced by fathers within the family court system and the prevalence of male suicide.
The roundtable comes after research by the Samaritans revealed that marriage breakdown is more likely to lead men, rather than women, to suicide, with a significant contributing factor to men's suicide being separation from their children.
Mr Moore met with mental health groups It's Worth Talking Aboutand Andy's Man Club at the Keighley Civic Centre alongside local parents to discuss the issue, which saw local fathers and grandparents tell their stories and highlight the restrictions they faced in seeing their children and grandchildren.
During the discussion, participants addressed the issue of “non-residential parents” - parents who are unable to see their children after divorce or separation due to an inequality in the current court assessment process for determining parental responsibility. Other topics discussed included child maintenance, legal aid, and family courts.
Mr Moore called some of the conversations at the roundtable “heartbreaking” and has vowed to raise the issues in Westminster to advocate for changes that will better support fathers’ roles in the family court process.
It’s Worth Talking About provide safe, confidential spaces for men & women to come & talk about anything that is affecting their wellbeing, mental health or quality of life.
ANDYSMANCLUB are a men’s suicide prevention charity, offering free-to-attend peer-to-peer support groups across the United Kingdom and online. We want to end the stigma surrounding men’s mental health and help men through the power of conversation.
Speaking after the roundtable, Robbie Moore MP said:
“Since becoming Keighley and Ilkley’s MP, I have heard some heartbreaking stories from local famillies from across our area who have been affected by male suicide, which often has devastating effects on our communities.
That is why it was a privilege to meet with parents who are prevented from seeing their own children as well as members of It's Worth Talking About and Andys Man Club to learn about what more can be done to address the imbalance within the system and to help reduce the terribly high male suicide rate, with our discussion focusing on underlying issues with the family court process, child maintenance and ultimately parental access to children.
Suicide is the leading cause of death for men under 50 and seems to be exacerbated when fathers are unfairly separated from their children and restricted from seeing their kids grow up due to current inequalities within the family courts system.
It is therefore vitally important that we understand the issues underlying these awful statistics, and I will now be taking what I have heard from residents to Westminster to push for meaningful changes that will protect men's mental health and well-being, support non-residential parents, and provide effective access to mental health services and legal aid for local fathers.”
Ryan Anderton, Founder of It's Worth Talking About, said:
"I'd like to thank Robbie for supporting this issue. At our mental health support groups we regularly speak with parents & grandparents that are struggling with the emotional, mental and financial strain of not being able to see their children / grandchildren. This is an important wellbeing matter that is affecting men, women and children across the whole of the country and we see it first hand in your constituency.'
