LONDON, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- An ambitious program to train a million people in basic mental health first aid skills was announced Tuesday by Public Health England (PHE) to mark World Mental Health Day.
The 20 million-U.S. dollar program, the biggest of its kind on Britain, will help people recognize and respond effectively to signs of mental illness in others.
The campaign, designed and delivered by PHE will also help people assess their own mental wellbeing and learn techniques to reduce stress. The project will use an online learning module designed to improve public knowledge, skills and confidence on mental health issues.
A spokesman for PHE said: "These are skills for life, as most of us will at some point either experience poor mental health or care for a loved one trying to cope. The campaign will aim to build resilience and give people advice, based on what has been shown to work, so that we can all be better at supporting people experiencing poor mental health."
Prime Minister Theresa May said: "Tackling the injustice and reducing the stigma associated with mental health conditions is a priority for me, which is why today I set the goal of providing one million members of the public with basic mental health awareness and first aid."
Paul Farmer, CEO of the mental health charity MIND, said: "A five-year plan for improving mental health services was launched last year and includes an additional 1 billion pounds (1.32 billion U.S. dollars) of investment in mental health services by 2020-21. We need to see this plan delivered, with funding reaching the front line."
The profile of mental health in Britain has been raised following active support from the British royal family.
