Tackling child substance abuse, suicide and self-harm
The Fathering Project Preventing Kids Harm (PKH) was founded in May 2015 to tackle increasing rates of child substance abuse, mental illness, suicide and self-harm. By delivering evidence-based programs to schools, workplaces and community groups, we aim to raise awareness, educate fathers and families, and ultimately prevent further growth of these issues.
Research shows that fathers are a key force in reducing drug and alcohol exploration and fostering “secure exploration” of challenging and unknown situations with lasting impacts through childhood and beyond. Engaged and supportive fathers and father figures can also improve social, behavioural and emotional development, leading to higher self-esteem and better decision making abilities.
The Fathering Project PKH programs primarily aim at working together with fathers and father figures in order to:
- Increase their awareness of substance abuse, suicide and self-harm in relation to school aged children.
- Provide and implement preventative strategies to reduce the incidence of substance abuse, suicide and self-harm
- Provide strategies to undertake intervention where children are displaying inappropriate behaviours in these areas.
- Work with schools to deliver peer, mentor and education programs that prevent and intervene in substance abuse, suicide and self-harm amongst school children.
Funding needs
The scope for this program is significant. Sufficient on-going funding will support us to conduct world-class research through The University of Western Australia and produce educational materials for schools, parents and children and deliver much-needed prevention and intervention programs.
Where the money goes
The purpose of The Fathering Project PKH is to conduct programs to prevent and control behaviours associated with:
- Substance abuse
- Suicide
- Self-harm
The Fathering Project PKH undertakes presentations and courses in schools, workplaces and community groups to educate and provide strategies to fathers and children to promote the prevention of harm due to substance abuse, suicide and self harm.
Funds will be applied to 3 key areas
- Roll out of regional program
- Engagement of postgraduate research fellow to undertake research, evaluation and guide content for The Fathering Project materials
- Preparation of online material for expansion of content and programs
Specifically, we will:
- Produce and distribute information to parents and children to enhance the understanding, identification and mitigation strategies for substance abuse, suicide and self-harm
- Research and share information about target areas
- Produce innovative and engaging materials to share our message
- Build a database from schools, website, workplace and community programs in order to distribute materials effectively
- Share materials to fathers and children
- Implement school-based intervention programs addressing suicide and self-harm
Your support will go a long way and very much appreciated by The Fathering Project PKH community.
Find out how you can support our work or make a tax-deductible donation
