Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has considered the potential merits of requiring all staff working in schools to be trained in mental health first aid principles.

To support education staff, the department provides a range of guidance and practical resources on promoting and supporting pupils’ mental health and wellbeing. For example, a resource hub for mental health leads, and a targeted support guide and hub to help choose evidence-based targeted support for pupils.

The government has also committed to provide access to specialist mental health professionals in every school by expanding mental health support teams, so every child and young person has access to early support to address problems before they escalate.

Beyond this, schools have the flexibility to decide what pastoral support and training they provide to best meet the individual needs of their pupils.