Suicide charity for separated dads marks 20th Anniversary on Fathers’ Day

Friday, 30 August, 2019

Australia’s leading suicide prevention charity for separated dads celebrates its 20th anniversary this Fathers’ Day (Sunday 1st September) by launching a new ‘DadsAlive!’ campaign.

Dads in Distress (DIDs) had been providing life-changing support for dads dealing with the trauma of family separation since launching its first group in Coffs Harbour, NSW on Fathers’ Day 1999.

Founded out of desperation

DIDs was founded by a separated dad, Tony Miller (OAM), who had contemplated suicide but decided to form a group with other ‘Dads in Distress’, which met on his verandah to talk over their problems and look out for each other.

The DIDs service is now run by a national charity, Parents Beyond Breakup, which provides support for separating dads who are doing it tough at 25 locations and runs a national helpline. However, the basic principles of the first group that met on a verandah 20 years ago remain the

same, DIDs is all about providing a friendly space where dads get together, share their stories and look out for blokes who are doing it tough.

Father's Day a tough time

Pete Nicholls, CEO of Parents Beyond Breakup said:

“Fathers’ Day can be a tough time of year for dads who are separated from their kids and one

of the busiest days for our helpline staff and volunteers. So as well as looking out for those dads

who need our support, we’ll also be marking our 20-year anniversary this Sunday with the

launch of the DadsAlive! campaign."

“The DadsAlive! campaign will raise awareness of our vital work with separated dads, extend

our support network to reach more ‘dads in distress’ and undertake research to make the case

to Government policymakers to put more resources into supporting separated dads.”

“Our ultimate goal is to reduce suicide among separated men and giving their kids the best start

in life by keeping their dads alive and in their lives.”

fathers day dads in distress

Year-long celebration planned

At the heart of the DadsAlive campaign is a series of events across the year beginning with Federal MP Julian Leeser and CEO of Suicide Prevention Australia, Nieves Murray, attending a special 20th anniversary support group in Sydney.

Later this year, the charity will launch a year-long research project into the plight of separated fathers in Australia. This will include an examination of key challenges faced by separated fathers and their children, and will outline facts, insights and case studies.

Lend us your Voice

DIDs will prepare a ‘2020 Vision Report’ and publish the findings to mark the end of the 20th Year celebrations on Father’s Day in 2020. The research project will be called ‘Lend us your Voice’ and interested dads can register at www.dadsalive.org.

Did You Know?

● Suicide kills 8 people a day in Australia and 6 of them are men

● Separation is one of the leading life crises linked to male suicide

● Around 1 in 4 male suicides in Australia are linked to separation

Dads in Distress

The principal activities of Dads in Distress are to assist men that are going through the trauma of separation and isolation from their children through peer support, and the promotion of the prevention or the control of behaviour that is harmful or abusive to human beings, particularly in the specified behaviours of suicide and self-harm as a result of family breakdown. DIDSS offers peer support that aims to provide help and hope for separated dads and their families. This includes a telephone helpline, support groups, one on one support and advocacy.

suicide prevention Australia

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