Every new teacher will be trained in how to spot the signs of mental health problems, Prime Minister Theresa May has announced.
The new strategy will see every new teacher in the country receive training in how to spot the signs that a young person is struggling with their mental health. Today’s announcement means schools will receive extra support to make sure people know how to promote good mental health in the same way that they look after physical wellbeing.
“Too many of us have seen first-hand the devastating consequences of mental illness, which is why tackling this burning injustice has always been a personal priority for me,” the prime minister said.
“But we should never accept a rise in mental health problems as inevitable. It’s time to rethink how we tackle this issue, which is why I believe the next great revolution in mental health should be in prevention.
“The measures we’ve launched today will make sure at every stage of life, for people of all backgrounds, preventing mental illness gets the urgent attention it deserves.”
She wants teacher training to include lessons in identifying children who might have mental health problems and to address issues such as self-harm.
At university level, there will be £1m for a competition to come up with innovative ideas to tackle mental health problems among students.
The plans come on top of the measures announced as part of the mental health services expansion under the NHS long-term plan.
Additional plans to increase public awareness around looking after mental health include a new national awareness campaign called Every Mind Matters, to be launched in October.