A recently published evaluation of the first year of the Youth Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) in Schools Programme indicates that the initiative is having positive benefit in helping to tackle youth mental health issues.
The Department of Health and Social Care-funded scheme has indicated an intention to train a member of staff in every state secondary school in the country in mental health awareness by 2020.
The study reports that, as a result of the training, MHFA Champions:
Nonetheless the stigma surrounding mental ill health is reported as a significant barrier to students feeling confident to speak openly on mental health issues.
Read the full report here