Pupil mental health project

A project which targets the mental health of schoolchildren will be tested in Rochdale.

The council has been chosen to take part in a national evaluation process funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

The project will make £220,000 available next year to the council and local front line health staff, to improve the mental health and wellbeing of children aged five to 13.

The money will help to develop therapeutic and holistic mental health support in schools, aimed at children who are at risk of, or experiencing, mental health problems, as well as their families.

The £4,000 for the evaluation stage is also Government funded.

The three year pathfinder Targeted Mental Health in Schools programme began in April last year when 25 councils and primary care trusts began work.

They began to help schoolchildren broadly described as having behavioural, social or emotional problems, and planning the pathfinder project.

It was introduced nationally in November and Rochdale is in the third phase, involving 72 councils, with funding for a one-year programme.