A pilot project supporting children with mental health problems is working with teachers and health services to improve wellbeing in schools.

The Welsh Government provided £1.4 million for three Schools in Reach pilot schemes in 2017, one of which has been running in Ceredigion.

Hywel Dda Health Board held Ceredigion’s share of £111,000 within its budget and specialist practitioners were recruited as part of the project.

Their roles are to act as link workers with schools, working within a multidisciplinary model to reduce emotional distress and prevent mental illness by offering early support to schools, and appropriate referrals and interventions.

Angharad Behnan, principal educational psychologist, told members of the county council’s healthier communities overview and scrutiny committee that the pilot had been extended to December 2020.

She outlined the ways it had been successful in improving the situations for pupils in all the county’s secondary schools and a number of primary schools, where it works with year six pupils.

Training for teachers and school staff is key to the pilot in order for them to recognise and respond to low level mental health problems as well as advice for how to refer more complex cases.

Greater sharing of information between schools and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services has occurred, with work with GPs to be included in the future.

As well as training resources and toolkits are provided to schools to help support young people.

See this week’s south papers for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition on Wednesday