MiDavies – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

The below Parliamentary question was asked by MiDavies on 2016-03-01.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps the Government is taking in schools to help young people spot the signs of mental illness.

Mr Sam Gyimah

Good mental health and wellbeing is a key priority for this Department. Young people have told us they would like to have opportunities to support each other and help to do this effectively.

We recently launched a suite of peer support activities, which include a call for evidence for stakeholders and children and young people and funding of up to £1.5m including a new digital innovation fund, to develop reliable, engaging and trusted advice online to help them understand both their own, and their friends mental health.

We will also be working with a core steering group, and wider advisory group of sector experts, including headteachers, youth leaders and charities, to look at what works in peer support, and how young people can strengthen their own networks.