One of the world's most respected campaigners on men's issues believes "dad deprivation" is directly causing what he's termed "the boy crisis" - and unless society urgently intervenes, we will be in danger of writing off a generation of men. Tomorrow Warren Farrell - pioneering men's activist, author of The Myth of Male Power and a mentor who once coached John Lennon - will give a keynote speech at the Male Psychology Conference in London.Farrell believes modern society is being tangibly eroded by dad deprivation, through increased relationship breakdown, family courts that favour mothers, and fathers denied access to their children after a separation.He points out that in every one of the largest 70 developed nations, boys have fallen behind girls, and what they have in common, Farrell says, is divorce. "Dad-deprived boys are less likely to display empathy, are less assertive, depressed, have nightmares, talk back and are disobedient," says Farrell, 72."These boys will also be more likely to have low self-esteem, fewer friends, and are likely to do worse in every single academic area, especially reading and writing, and maths and science."These boys hurt: and boys who hurt, hurt us - and themselves. Prisons are centres for dad-deprived boys. There has been a 700% increase in incarceration in the US since the 1970s - in the UK it has more than doubled. Dad deprivation is directly related to that, and to suicide, which is the No1 killer of British men aged under 45."At age nine, girls and boys commit suicide in equal numbers, but boys are twice as likely aged 14, four times more likely aged 15-19, and five times more by age 20-25. This is when dads drift out of their lives."Some of Farrell's proposed solutions are radical, such as increasing the numbers of male teachers in schools - by state legislation if necessary."We need a major overhaul of the education system, especially in inner cities where we know dad deprivation is higher," he says."These boys have no positive male role models. That makes them vulnerable to strong, destructive alpha males like gang leaders or drug dealers."These boys are also most likely to be brought up by mums, then move from a mother-centred home to a woman-centred school."Boys need to see males caring at every stage of their lives. So we need more male teachers, period. I'd say equal amounts at least, although, in areas where there are 70% single mothers, why not have 70% male teachers?"We need to encourage men into the caring sectors, to challenge the cliché that caring work is women's work."Farrell also urges dads not to willingly abandon their children."Men should not withdraw like cowards," he says. "To an eight-year-old boy, their dad is God. Backing off or abandoning them leaves the child feeling not important. Dads must fight to be a part of their children's lives, especially if the mother blocks that."Here, Farrell urges separating parents to park their own differences."Allowing dads in helps both the boy and the mother, as the child will be easier to manage for her as sole carer," he says."Data shows divorced mums are five times more likely to badmouth dads than dads do mums. That to me is child abuse: not by intent, but by outcome. It makes the boy feel that, when he's a dad, he will be a second- class citizen. It makes him hesitant to have kids himself."Above all, Farrell believes we need to preach that fatherhood is the ultimate reward, one that outweighs money or success."Fatherhood is about passing on character, which is the most empowering and gratifying feeling," he says. "We should celebrate gentle, caring, loving values in men; not just power, but responsibility."As well as Farrell, there are a host of other renowned speakers at the Male Psychology Conference. Its organisers are campaigning for a men's branch of the British Psychological Society to shatter what they call "male gender blindness" to men's mental health care.Organisers Martin Seager and John Barry point out that 80% of clinical psychologists are female, and with a mere 19% of current psychology undergraduates being men, that gender imbalance looks set to remain."Men are less likely to seek therapy than women, and are more likely to prefer a male therapist, yet there are far fewer male therapists than female," Barry says. "This begs the question of whether having more male therapists might help lower the male suicide rate."- ©The Daily Telegraph..