From Senior mental health lead training – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Published 2nd June 2021
Updated 18th February 2025 – Mental health lead training grants are no longer available.
This training is not compulsory. Having a senior mental health lead who can attend this training is encouraged to help you develop your setting’s holistic approach to promoting and supporting the mental wellbeing of pupils, students and staff, and make best use of existing resources.
Overview
The Department for Education (DfE) offered a senior member of staff in every school or college the opportunity to develop or introduce a whole school or college approach to mental health and wellbeing in their setting.
Taking a coordinated and evidence-informed approach to mental health and wellbeing in schools and colleges leads to improved pupil and student emotional health and wellbeing which can help readiness to learn.
Outcomes
The training is targeted towards giving your lead the knowledge and skills to develop a whole school or college approach to mental wellbeing in your setting and is closely aligned with Public Health England’s (PHE) promoting children and young people’s emotional health and wellbeing.
Which staff can get the training
Your school or college can decide who gets the training as every setting’s circumstances are different. Training could be for your:
- headteacher
- deputy headteacher
- member of the senior leadership team (SLT)
- if not a senior leader, an appropriate member of staff empowered to develop and oversee your setting’s whole school or college approach, with the full support of the SLT
Existing mental health leads
Existing mental health leads, or someone who has previously had mental health and wellbeing training, can still be nominated for this training.
The grant must be used on training to help develop or introduce your whole school or college approach to mental health and wellbeing, and existing senior leads might wish to:
- develop or refresh their knowledge and skills in specific priority areas
- get more advanced training
- get a relevant qualification
Existing mental health leads who are not part of SLT
While you can still nominate your existing mental health lead if they are not a member of the SLT, you will need to consider whether the individual has the authority, capacity and support to influence and lead strategic change within the setting.
Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs)
You can continue to work with MHSTs if this is already in place. Your nominated senior lead can also be your MHST coordinator, responsible for liaising with the team.
How the training will be delivered
The training you choose can be integrated with other training and resources you are already using and contribute towards your continuous professional development.
You can use this list of resources to promote mental health and wellbeing.