§ Dr. StoateTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he is taking to reduce the rate of suicide among young men by introducing education in schools to help children recognise the symptoms of depression and sources of help. [76578]
608W
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe Department for Education and Employment, together with the Department of Health, announced the Healthy Schools Initiative in May 1998. This will support personal, social and health education in schools and address the issue of emotional health and well being. As part of the initiative we have established the Wired for Health website, providing health information initially for teachers, and later for pupils and students. The site provides a link between the Young Minds Website and the Royal College of Psychiatrists fact sheets on child and adolescent mental health. We will be expanding the information relating to mental health on the website in due course.
The Government regard children with emotion and behavioural difficulties and mental health problems as having special educational needs. Preventing the development of these problems is a key element of our policy. The recently published Action Programme, "Meeting Special Educational Needs" flagged as priorities measures targeted at young children to prevent them developing problems, and to strengthen provision for older children. Such activities were eligible for support under the 1999–2000 Standards Fund, and approximately 20 Local Education Authorities are to be supported to undertake pilot projects in this field.