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New Course in Roscommon Aims to Boost Father-Son Relationships
Are you a dad? Or a step-dad or a grandfather?
Are you and your son getting as much from your relationship
as you could be? Are you someone that he can turn to
in a crisis? Would you like to learn more about how you could provide
support for him?
These are just some of the questions being addressed
by 'Raising Boys for Fathers', an innovative RehabCare
course taking place
over two evenings on Tuesday, 23rd January and Tuesday,
30th January in Gleeson's Town House, Roscommon town
at 8 p.m. The course is designed
to give fathers the information and confidence to manage
and cope with their changing role in Irish society,
and is particularly timely amid
growing concerns about boys' early school leaving,
under-achievement at school, road traffic accidents and social isolation.
It has been noted that levels of suicide among boys
and young men
are higher in
Ireland than in other European countries.
Participants from across County Roscommon are invited
to attend the course which is free to all participants.
People can register
their interest by contacting Collette Ryan, RehabCare
on (086) 838 0218 or by emailing: raisingboys@rehabcare.ie.
Places are limited and
will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Fathers will learn about research that shows that
they can have a uniquely-positive impact on their
children's lives and development. The course will also address
the role of fathers and how boyhood has
changed over the past 20 years. This will be followed
by a discussion on how fathers are perceived by
their sons and what is happening for
boys as they grow into men.
'The "Raising Boys for Fathers" course will help
fathers to improve their communication skills
so that they are equipped and available to talk to their sons
should they encounter any of life's
problems,' said Collette Ryan, course co-ordinator,
RehabCare.
'It is an alarming fact that high levels of suicide
are found among young Irish males. Although
by no means predicting suicide, one of the many
protective factors against
suicide is the
presence
of a supportive, caring adult in a young person's
life. It is obvious that a good father-son
relationship not
only has a positive effect
on the father and son, but also on society
as a whole.'
Originally developed by the HSE North Western
Area, the course has been successfully delivered
in that region for the past six years. It will be delivered
in Roscommon by specially-trained RehabCare
facilitators whom are fathers themselves.
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