A number of national charities and professional bodies have helped secure an historic debate in parliament next week on “Male Suicide and International Men’s Day“.

Last week CALM UK—a male suicide prevention charity that has supported International Men’s Day since 2011—brought together an alliance of charities and experts to call on the Backbench Business Committee to allow a debate on male suicide to be held in parliament on International Men’s Day (19th November).

The call followed a decision by the committee to reject a proposal from Philip Davies MP calling for an International Men’s Day debate.

CALM UK responded with a letter supported by, amongst others, the Samaritans, Rethink Mental Illness, the British Psychological Society and the British Association of Social Workers, backing an International Men’s Day debate.

When he returned to the Backbench Business Committee this week, Mr Davies request for an International Men’s Day debate was granted.

Glen Poole, UK Co-ordinator for Internatonal Men’s Day said:

“This is great news. We’d like to thank everyone who supported Mr Davies’ call for a International Men’s Day debate on men’s issues in parliament. International Men’s Day is apolitical so we’d now like to invite MPs from all parties to get involved, to show their support for the day and put forward policy solutions to the issues that affect men and boys in the UK”.

To find out more about International Men’s Day role in highlighting the issue of male suicide, click here.

To put your weight behind CALM UK’s social media campaign to raise awareness of male suicide on International Men’s Day sign up at the Bigger Issues website.