TEENAGERS took time out of regular schooling to learn about mental health issues and how to mentor their peers yesterday.

Around 25 students at Lydiard Park Academy took part in an intense training programme to enable them to support their peers around mental health and wellbeing under an initiative by a charity called MindFull.

They were joined by South Swindon MP Robert Buckland, who gave his support to the project and found out more about the skills the students learned.

Mr Buckland said: “It was very interesting to see what MindFull has been doing with these young people, teaching them about mental health and wellbeing issues for teenagers and also training them to be mentors.

“The young people were all very receptive and I was impressed with the concept of the young people mentoring. Being a teenager can be difficult as there is so much going on and it is important that young people should feel they can be open and talk about their problems.”

Mindfull is a service for 11 to 17-year-olds, providing support, information and advice about mental health and emotional wellbeing. MindFull is open every day, between 10am and midnight online at www.mindfull.org.