Schools are to be given assistance to help them educate pupils about mental health, the Department for Education has revealed.

The government, in collaboration with the Personal Social Health and Economic Education (PSHE) Association, said that it wants to end the stigma that concerns mental health.

Studies show that one in ten children has a diagnosable mental health disorder, which goes to show that this condition is commonplace and needs to be better understood.

Childcare education minister Sam Gyimah said that a new blueprint is to be created to support schools when it comes to delivering counselling.

This important document will be shaped by canvassing the opinions and thoughts of young people and experts in the field of mental health to ensure that it is practical, realistic and helpful.

“Many schools are already doing excellent work in providing support to their pupils but we know there is more to do to ensure schools enrich the whole child,” Mr Gyimah said.

“This is why we are setting the first in a series of actions as part of a fresh focus on mental health.

“Developing young peoples’ character can sometimes be seen as being separate from academic attainment, but mental health problems can be a real barrier to achievement and they can certainly be approached and achieved together.”

News of this comes on the back of a guide that was published in the summer offering advice to teachers on how to spot bad behaviour from mental health problems.

Speaking at the time, education minister Elizabeth Truss said that the document would go a long way in helping students in need.

“At the moment too many young people are unfairly labelled as trouble-makers when in fact they have unmet mental health problems,” Ms Truss continued.

“Good mental health among pupils is fundamental to their wellbeing and success. We know schools want clear guidelines on how best to separate poor behaviour from underlying mental health issues.”