Bedford and Kempston’s Conservative MP Candidate, Ryan Henson, has welcomed the Government's initiative to offer mental health training to all local schools and colleges in Bedford and Kempston.

The Government announced earlier this week that they have set aside £9.3million as part of their commitment to provide more joined up care between school and college staff and NHS professionals.

Ryan Henson said: “Bringing school and college staff into the same room as NHS professionals, and encouraging them to work together, will ensure more pupils get the right support at the right time.

“With half of all lifetime cases of mental health disorders beginning by the age of 14, bridging the gap between education and NHS services is vital if we are to ensure all children get the best possible start in life.”

The offer is part of a wider £1.4 billion programme to support young people’s mental health, along with the introduction of compulsory health education lessons from 2020.