Teachers in secondary schools around the United Kingdom are taking part in a training programme to help them identify and respond to early signs of mental health issues in children.

The programme, launched in June 2017, is backed in the first year by £200,000 in government funding, and delivered by the social enterprise Mental Health First Aid. It has been launched with 1,000 staff and is expected to extend in years 2 and 3 to cover every secondary school in England.

These schools will receive practical advice on how to deal with issues such as depression and anxiety, suicide and psychosis, self-harm, and eating disorders. They will also be invited to become ‘first aid champions’, sharing their knowledge and experiences across schools and communities to raise awareness and break down stigma and discrimination.

British Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said, “Teachers already provide outstanding pastoral care and support for their pupils, but many have said that they would appreciate more training on how to understand and respond to mental health issues.

“We know that identifying symptoms of mental illness early can help young people on the road to recovery. This training will mean more children receive the timely and sensitive support they need to stay well.”

One in 10 school-aged children will have a mental health condition at any time, with half of all mental health conditions beginning before the age of 14, making early intervention and support vital.