
Under the plans, all schools will have to teach children health education, covering both mental and physical health, as part of lessons that will also include relationships education in primary schools, and relationships and sex education (RSE) in secondary schools.
Schools will be able to teach the new lessons from September 2019 when support materials for teachers will be available. From September 2020, the lessons will be compulsory.
The government said compulsory mental health education will help pupils "to build mental resilience and wellbeing".
The plans follow the publication of the government's December 2017 green paper, Transforming Children and Young People's Mental Health, which outlined proposals to boost the role of schools in supporting the mental health needs of children and young people. This includes appointing a designated mental health lead in every school and college.
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