Every new teacher in England will be trained in how to spot the signs of mental health issues, under a new prevention plan unveiled by the Prime Minister today (Monday 17 June).
Theresa May will pledge ‘better access to education, training and support across communities’ as part of an overhaul of society’s approach to mental illness.
The wide-ranging package of measures will ‘make sure people have the confidence and skills they need to identify mental health issues before they become critical, particularly in young people’.
Today’s announcement means schools, social workers, local authorities and healthcare services 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.
Announcing the new plans, Prime Minister Theresa May said: “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.
“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.”