Morgan announces £1.5m for mental health peer support network

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has announced a fund of £1.5 million will be spent on building peer support networks, in order to help young people identify signs of mental ill-health in their peers.

The network will create more awareness of mental health, encourage people to talk openly about the issue and will provide online advice and workshops to support them.

A digital innovation fund will also be utilised to create new and engaging online resources for parents and young people, including mobile phone apps. The move recognises that young people are often the first to notice sings of mental illness in their peers, and are more likely to confide in each other.

The network aims to train young people appropriately, arming them with necessary knowledge to spot when someone is in need of help. An advisory group will also be set up to gather evidence from young people about their experiences, and work with schools who are already running successful peer to peer networks.

Morgan said: “We know that if mental health issues aren’t tackled in children, it can blight their lives as adults. That’s why I think all schools should be having an open and frank conversation about mental health so that we continue to tackle the stigma that still surrounds it and ensure every child gets the support they need.

“The truth is that the people who best understand the pressures that young people face are their classmates and friends - they’re the ones that spot the telltale signs that their friends are experiencing problems, and the people to whom children are most likely to turn for support. That’s why today’s announcements are about giving young people the training they need to spot the signs of mental health issues and get the support they need. To do that we will be working with schools, mental health experts, charities - and most importantly young people themselves.”

The announcement is part of the government’s wider objective to improve children’s mental health. The peer support networks will range from informal buddying schemes to one-on-one and group sessions with professionals.