Department for Education to fund national mental health training scheme

The Department for Education has allocated £9.3 million towards helping students receive support for mental health issues. Directed by the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families and in partnership with the Link Programme, instruction courses are to take place throughout England with the goal of reaching all 22,000 schools across the country. Working to bridge the gap between NHS specialists and school staff, the scheme aims to erase stigma surrounding mental health concerns amongst students in all levels of education. It is also designed to improve the referral system should students require additional, specialist support. Backing the scheme is Education Secretary Damian Hinds, who believes the scheme will “build on the significant measures we’ve already put in place to improve children’s well being.”