Academy chain set to train all staff in mental health first aid

The E-Act multi-academy trust is aiming to train all of its staff as mental health first aiders and launch a pupil-led mental health curriculum in its schools.

The chain, which has 25 primary and secondary school hopes to ensure that all pupils understand the issues that may affect them.

The trust’s chief executive, David Moran, will be funding the scheme, which will cost around £420,000 annually.

As reported by Tes, E-Act’s internal surveys show that almost a third of its pupils feel stressed most or all of the time. And more than 130 pupils said they were anxious or worried most or all of the time with more than 100 often feeling down, depressed, hopeless or teary.

At the moment, most schools are training one or two members of staff in mental health first aid, however, Moran aims to train every teacher in the chain’s schools.

The target is to train 500 members of E-Act staff a year and 10 members of staff as instructors in mental health first aid, costing £320,000 per year.