Young Minds enlists comedy to engage dads in children’s wellbeing

By Caroline Lovell on January 28, 2008 in Family support, Mental Health

Fathers are not engaging with their child’s mental health, charity Young Minds, has warned today as it launched a campaign to turn this around.

In response, the charity has enlisted the help of stand-up comedian John Ryan to send out a message to fathers to get involved with their child’s mental wellbeing.

Young Minds found that eight out of every 10 parents, who contacted its children’s mental health helpline, were mothers. The helpline receives more than 4,000 calls annually from parents, carers and professionals.

Ryan spoke to more than 100 fathers to research for his comedy show, Those Young Minds, which will tour nationally and launch at Leicester Comedy Festival on 13 February.

Daryl Nicholas, project co-ordinator at Young Minds, said: “We want fathers to get the message that it’s OK for them to be concerned about their children and to take action. They don’t have to leave it to mothers.”

The charity says that 11.5% of children and young people, aged 11 to 16, have a mental disorder.

More information

Short films promoting the campaign
John Ryan
Young Minds
Leicester Comedy Festival