Ralph the dog and mental health 'first aid' training helps anxious children

A school in Sussex has been chosen to pilot a new type of training that will help staff spot mental health problems among its students - and help them.

Increasing numbers of children are suffering with mental health problems and half of all these conditions start before the age of 14.

The Prime Minister Theresa May today re-affirmed the government's commitment to train 3,000 staff in secondary schools in mental health 'first aid'.

Patcham High School in Sussex is among just a dozen schools nationwide to have been given the training so far.

Two students, Alfie Ballard and Adam Winsor, who are both 13, have already been using the school's 'calm room', with its resident dog, Ralph:

The headteacher of Patcham High School, John McKee, says the school's new mental health 'first aid' training is a step in the right direction:

Abigail Bracken's report also includes an interview with Patcham High School's learning mentor, Debra Lloyd, and Nick Harrop from Young Minds.