Teachers 'should be trained to sport depression'

January 07 2011

Teachers should be trained to spot mental health problems in their students, it has been claimed.

Lucie Russell, director of campaigns at YoungMinds, said all professionals working with young people should be educated in child development and mental health.

She noted that it is important for teachers to spot the signs and realise if a pupil is struggling or depressed.

"In schools at the moment, children's professionals aren't really trained in that way, and that includes school nurses as well," Ms Russell commented.

"There is much more emphasis on the physical - knowing what to do if a child hurts themselves physically or has a physical illness - than if they're struggling and stressed out and have mental health problems."

Her comments come after research carried out by academics at the University of Bristol and University of Cambridge revealed that girls who reach puberty at an early age are more likely to have mental health issues in the future.

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