The Duchess of Cambridge launches a new mental health initiative for schools

With as many as one in ten young children experiencing a mental health issue before the age of 11, Her Royal Highness has put young people at the heart of Heads Together and her ongoing work with The Royal Foundation.

'Mentally Healthy Schools' will be a free and easy to use website for schools, drawing together reliable and practical resources to improve awareness, knowledge and confidence in promoting and supporting pupils’ mental health.

Teachers and staff play a pivotal role in a young person's life, but they currently struggle to find the right resources in order to provide the most effective support for children in their care. Up until now, the array of online resources has been difficult to navigate.

Over the course of this project's development more than 1,500 online resources have been reviewed and evaluated by a quality assurance group to ensure the calibre and suitability for a primary school audience.

Coordinated and financed by The Royal Foundation, 'Mentally Healthy Schools' has been developed by the youth-focussed charity partners of Heads Together; the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, Place2Be and Young Minds.

Former Head Teacher, Claire Thomson, one of the advisors to the website said:

“I can see this website becoming a favourite go-to site for information about the many aspects of mental health. I think it is really important that all school staff feel that the information applies to them as well, not just to teachers. So, no matter what their role in the school, they need to have an understanding and empathy towards all the children."