A GROUP of schoolchildren have completed a two-day mental health champions training course.

The 30 students from Hove Park School were welcomed to the County Ground in Hove for the course at the onsite Sussex Cricket Foundation Learning Centre.

The group of 12 to 18-year-olds were trained in mental health awareness and peer support practices as part of an innovative approach to the mental health needs of the Hove Park School community.

The programme aims to encourage a supportive and open culture towards mental health in the school by raising awareness and increasing access to services via mental health champions.

The Sussex Cricket Foundation offered its support over the two days by running its “healthy mind, health body” workshops.

These explore the connection between sport, physical health and mental health.

Two members of Sussex Cricket’s coaching staff Paul Khoury and Mike Yardy also contributed to the course.

Paul is Sussex’s head of medicine and science and is responsible for the physical and mental wellbeing of the club’s players.

He spoke to the group about how sports professionals maintain positive mental health and the benefits of daily physical activity.

Mike, a former England and Sussex cricketer and Sussex’s current batting coach, answered questions from the group about his own experience of mental health.

He offered advice on how the Hove Park mental health champions could best support their classmates.

Mike said: “It’s important that everyone feels they have support when they are struggling with their mental wellbeing because ultimately this could make a big difference.”

The programme culminated in an awards ceremony where the pupils received their official Hove Park School mental health champions’ status.

The Sussex Cricket Foundation is the charitable arm of Sussex Cricket.