Prime Minister Theresa May today unveiled her "prevention plan" which she said will be backed by updated statutory guidance to make clear schools' responsibilities to protect children's mental wellbeing.
Under the plan, there will be access to teaching and training materials for all teachers for use in classrooms.
In addition, there will be support for school mental health leads so they can help children experiencing self-harm and at risk of suicide.
May said tackling mental illness was a "personal priority", adding it was time to rethink the issue.
"I believe the next great revolution in mental health should be in prevention," she said.
However, Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), said: "The aspiration to train school staff to spot signs of mental illness among pupils is welcome, but it will amount to little more than a sticking plaster."
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