'They're just as needed as mothers': Warren Farrell thinks Father's Day gets overshadowed

A "boy crisis" is occurring, and fatherhood can bridge the gap, according to someone who's written a book on the issue.

Author Warren Farrell spoke in Nashville earlier this month to an audience of 500 about spending more time with family and more specifically, building a father-and-son relationship.

The National Fatherhood Summit took place at Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center June 4-6 and was sponsored by the U.S Department of Health and Human Services. It brought a variety of people together to explore ways to support responsible fatherhood.

Farrell is co-author of "The Boy Crisis" and other books, and chairman of the Coalition to Create a White House Council on Boys and Men.

He wants Americans to acknowledge the vital role of fathers. 

“I am sad that there isn’t any recognition for Father’s Day because they’re just as needed as mothers but in a different aspect," Farrell said in an interview with The Tennessean. 

As Father’s Day approaches, boys across Tennessee remain deprived of a relationship with their fathers, something Farrell calls a 'boy crisis.' The unhealthy family cycle affects boys' education, mental health and longevity.

"Dad deprivation" is the greatest single predictor of a boy becoming an inmate, an addict or even a suicide victim, Farrell said.

During the summit, Farrell offered advice on how to notice signs of dad deprivation and how to overcome it. Boys need to see men with different personalities in a variety of roles, such as teachers and mentors, as well as fathers, he said. 

Giving boys and men a sense of purpose will help fix the crisis, Farrell said. Parents should also support each other in their roles as mothers and fathers.

Derek Miller, a father of a 3-year-old boy, attended the summit as part of his job as care coordinator of the 4DAD Fatherhood Initiative in Kalamazoo, Michigan, but found it personally helpful as well.

"It's good to know that I am not alone," he said. "Other men are striving for the same goal, which is being a better father."